How reliable is axillary temperature measurement?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Clinical Thermometry
• Biomedical Research

Background:

• Accurate body temperature measurement is crucial for diagnosing and managing febrile illnesses in children.
• Axillary temperature measurement is a common, non-invasive method used in pediatric care.
• Concerns exist regarding the accuracy and reliability of axillary temperatures compared to core temperature measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of axillary temperature measurements in reflecting oral and rectal temperature readings in pediatric patients.
• To determine the correlation and agreement between axillary and core body temperatures across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• An observational study was conducted in a general pediatric ward.
• Paired axillary-rectal and axillary-oral temperatures were compared in 337 children (225 aged ≤4 years, 112 aged 4-14 years).

Main Results:

• Axillary temperatures were significantly lower than both oral (mean difference -0.56°C) and rectal (mean difference -0.38°C) measurements.
• A significant correlation (p < 0.0001) was observed between changes in axillary and oral/rectal temperatures.
• The discrepancy between axillary and core temperatures increased with rising body temperature, exceeding 1°C at 39°C.

Conclusions:

• Axillary temperature measurements in young children do not reliably reflect oral or rectal temperatures.
• Axillary temperature readings in pediatric populations should be interpreted with caution due to systematic underestimation.
• Further research may be needed to establish appropriate correction factors or alternative methods for accurate temperature assessment in children.