การประเมินอุณหภูมิกายที่วัดทางรักแร้ด้วยเทอร์โมมิเตอร์ชนิดปรอทแก้วและดิจิตอลเทอร์โมมิเตอร์ในทารกครบกำหนด

Abstract

Background: The standard measurement of rectal temperature in newborns has currently been replaced by axillary temperature using mercury-in-glass or digital thermometer due to its convenience and safety.  However, there is no definite conclusion regarding the best method of measuring axillary temperature in newborn infants.

Objective: To evaluate the precision of axillary temperature measurement using mercury-in-glass and digital thermometers in comparison with standard rectal temperature in term newborns.

Material and method: The temperatures of healthy, term infants were measured after birth. Three methods of temperature measurements were serially performed: (1) rectal temperature using mercury-in-glass thermometer for 3 minutes, (2) axillary temperature using mercury-in-glass thermometer for 7 minutes and (3) axillary temperature using digital thermometer model Terumo C202 for 1.5 minutes.

Statistical analysis: The comparison of data was analyzed by using paired t-test.

Results: Seventy-five healthy term infants were enrolled into the study. There were 10 infants having rectal temperatures out of normal range; 2 cases (2.67%) below 36.5°C and 8 cases (10.67%) above 37.5°C. Comparing with rectal temperature, the mean differences of axillary temperature measured by using mercury-in-glass and digital thermometers were 0.26 °C (95%CI 0.20 to 0.31, p < 0.001) and -0.02 °C (95%CI -0.08 to 0.04, p=0.482), respectively.

Conclusion: Temperature measurement using axillary digital thermometer is closely related to rectal temperature and could be used for monitoring temperature in healthy term newborns.