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Diurnal variation in body temperature of Gambian children
J R Schellenberg1, B M Greenwood, P Gomez
1Medical Research Council Laboratories, Fajara, The Gambia.
Insights
Body temperature in children varies significantly throughout the day, with the highest readings in the afternoon. Standardizing temperature measurement times is crucial for accurately defining clinical malaria in endemic regions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Tropical Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Fever is a primary indicator for defining clinical malaria episodes in children residing in malaria-endemic regions.
- Accurate assessment of fever is critical for effective malaria diagnosis and management in population-based surveys.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diurnal variation of body temperature in young children during the malaria season.
- To determine the association between ambient air temperature and body temperature in children.
- To provide recommendations for standardizing temperature assessment in malaria research.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 69 children aged 1-5 years was conducted in a rural area of The Gambia during the malaria season.
- Body temperature was measured every 3 hours, from 08:00 to 20:00.
- Data on ambient air temperature was collected concurrently.
Main Results:
- Children's body temperature exhibited significant diurnal variation, averaging over one degree Celsius difference between morning lows and afternoon highs.
- A strong positive correlation was observed between ambient air temperature and children's body temperature.
- Mean body temperatures were consistently lower in the early morning and peaked in the afternoon.
Conclusions:
- Diurnal fluctuations in body temperature are substantial in children aged 1-5 years in malaria-endemic areas.
- Researchers utilizing measured fever to define clinical malaria episodes in population surveys should standardize the time of day for temperature assessment.
- Standardization of temperature measurement timing is essential for reliable malaria diagnosis and epidemiological studies.
Abstract:
Measured fever often forms the basis for defining clinical malaria episodes in children from endemic areas. We measured body temperature every 3 h from 08:00 to 20:00 in 69 children aged 1-5 years during the malaria season in a rural area of The Gambia. Body temperature varied on average by more than one degree Celsius during the course of a day. Mean temperatures were lowest in the early morning and highest in the afternoon. There was a strong positive association between air temperature and body temperature. In highly endemic areas, researchers who use measured fever to assess clinical malaria episodes in population-based surveys should standardize the time of day at which temperature is assessed.