0568

TYMPANIC AND RECTAL TEMPERATURE COMPARISON IN CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 5-YEAR-OLD

Zhang Y-H

Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai, China

Objective: Traditionally, the oral, rectal, and axillary sites have been used in clinical practice for measuring temperature. Recently, the tympanic temperature measurement has been used widely because it is convenient and non-invasive. However, conflicting study results in tympanic temperature measurement in children make it in clinical application difficult. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the difference between tympanic and rectal temperature in children younger than 5-year-old.

Methods: Three hundred sixty children between 2-month-old to 5-year-old were selected purposely and were assigned into different age groups. Each temperature group had 30 children enrolled. Participated children were assigned into 3 different age groups (less than 1 year old, 1-3 year old, 3-5

year old). Each group of children was further divided into 4 temperature groups: normal temperature (< 37.5⁰C), low-grade fever (37.6 - 38.4⁰C), moderate fever (38.5 ⁰C to 39.4⁰C), and high fever (39.5⁰C).

Results: The study results indicated that rectal temperature and tympanic temperature measurement among all participated children were significantly correlated (r = 0.415 - 0.788, p < 0.05). Among all children younger than 1-year-old in four temperature groups, the mean differences between tympanic and rectal temperature were 0.26 ± 0.36 ⁰C, and the differences were all significant (p < 0.001). For children younger than 3-year-old and in 3 to 5-year-old groups, the mean temperature differences in four temperature

groups were also small and significant.

Conclusion: Tympanic temperature and rectal temperature for children

under age of five are statistical significantly correlated. The difference between two temperatures is very small (0.29 ± 0.34 ⁰C) and it will not

affect the clinical judgement and intervention. However, this study does

not include neonates; therefore, the application of this study in neonates

is to be determined.