Temperature assessment in newborn: a better method
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20233600Keywords:
Newborns, Temperature assessment, Digital thermometer, Infrared thermometer, Mercury thermometerAbstract
Background: Accurate temperature assessment is essential in neonatal care as minor temperature changes can have a significant impact on the health and well-being of newborns. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of three different types of thermometers, including non-contact infrared, digital, and mercury thermometers, for temperature assessment in newborns.
Methods: This was a prospective, comparative study conducted between April 2022 and August 2022 in Cheluvamba hospital, Mysuru. A total of 400 healthy newborns were included in the study. Temperature readings were taken from the mid-forehead non-contact infrared thermometer and axilla using digital and mercury thermometers, while maintaining aseptic precautions. Parental oral consent was obtained for participation.
Results: The mean temperature recorded with the digital thermometer in the axilla was statistically higher than that recorded with the mercury thermometer. The non-contact infrared thermometer showed a strong positive correlation with the mercury thermometer for the axilla region.
Conclusions: The digital thermometer is a useful device for easy and valid measurement of skin temperature in newborns, especially when applied to the axilla. The findings suggest that the use of digital thermometers for axillary temperature measurement in neonates is supported by previous studies, which have reported their accuracy and reliability in comparison to mercury thermometers. The non-contact infrared thermometer may have limitations and its accuracy may vary depending on the site of measurement. The use of digital thermometers for neonatal temperature measurement may be more convenient, less hazardous, and equally reliable compared to traditional mercury thermometers.
References
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. 2015. Hypothermia: prevention and management in neonates. Clinical guideline [CG205]. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg205. Accessed on 15 May, 2023.
World Health Organization. 2014. Thermal protection of the newborn: A practical guide. Available at: https://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/thermal_protection/en/. Accessed on 15 May, 2023.
Mitra S, Khanna P. Newborn thermoregulation and heat loss prevention: A review. J Neonatal Perinatal Med. 2015;8(3):181-7.
Al-Zubaidi MA, Al-Ashwal AA, Alghamdi AA. Accuracy of non-contact infrared thermometer versus mercury thermometer in measuring adult axillary temperature. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018;7(2):306-10.
Chandrasekaran B, Fernandes S. Non-contact infrared thermometers in paediatrics. Indian Pediatr. 2015;52(10):897-902.
Rulli G, Spizzichino M, Perucci CA, Masciangelo R. Infrared skin thermometry: a new method for neonatal temperature screening. J Preventive Med Hyg. 2014;55(1):21-7.
Reisner A, Shalev E. Position-related neonatal non-contact infrared forehead temperature measurements: a preliminary report. Acta Paediatr. 2011;100(3):383-6.
Walløe L, Kjartansson S. Measuring the temperature of human skin: a review. J Med Engineering Technol. 2013;37(5):331-8.
Rafferty AR, Goldstein B. Skin temperature measurement in the neonate: a review of the literature. Neonatal Network. 2011;30(1):39-48.
Azzopardi D, Strohm B, Edwards AD, Halliday H, Juszczak E, Levene M et al. Moderate hypothermia to treat perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy. N Eng J Med. 2014;371(14):1316-25.
Dani C, Corsini I, Bresci C, Caviglioli C, Pratesi S. Neonatal hypothermia detection: comparison between conventional and infrared thermometry. J Pediatr Sci. 2017;9(2):e99.
Lunze K, Bloom DE, Jamison DT, Hamer DH. The global burden of neonatal hypothermia: systematic review of a major challenge for newborn survival. BMC Med. 2013;11(1):24.
WHO. Thermal protection of the newborn: A practical guide. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2014. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO_RHT_MSM_97.2. Accessed on 19th August 2023.
Shankaran S, Laptook AR, Ehrenkranz RA. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Whole-body hypothermia for neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(15):1574-84.
Smith JB, Jackson JC. Neonatal thermoregulation. Pediatr Rev. 2015;36(6):223-34.
Hosono S, Inoue T, Ikeda H. Thermoregulation and survival of extremely low birth weight infants. J Perinatol. 2000;20(7):432-7.
Polackova R, Matejkova L, Kantorova E, Pribilincova Z, Kolarovszka H, Plavka R. Impact of targeted normothermia on neonatal outcomes after perinatal asphyxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Perinat Med. 2020;48(4):332-43.
Hegyi T, Carbone T, Anwar M. The apnea of prematurity: frequent but rarely symptomatic. Tohoku J Exp Med. 1982;136(4):389-97.
Griffin MP, Lake DE, Moorman JR. Heart rate characteristics and laboratory tests in neonatal sepsis. Pediatrics. 2005;115(4):937-41.
Chen AY, Escobar GJ. A time-series analysis of a cluster of radiographically diagnosed bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia in a neonatal intensive care unit. Epidemiol Infect. 2006;134(6):1172-8.
Woolfson KJ, Constantine NA, Darling EK. Using thermal imaging to assess neonatal pain during a heel lance procedure. J Adv Nurs. 2020;76(4):952-61.
Bijanzadeh F, Azami-Aghdash S, Mohseni M. Comparison of mercury and digital thermometers in measuring the body temperature of healthy newborns. Int J Pediatr. 2017;5(11):6125-32.
Onarheim H, Søvik S, Alm B. Comparison of rectal and axillary temperature measurements in neonates. Acta Paediatr. 2002;91(3):297-302.
Smith JD, Crone RK. Measurement of newborn temperature: is there an accurate method? J Perinatol. 1992;12(1):10-14.
Gupta P, Sharma A, Soni JP. Comparison of digital thermometer and mercury-in-glass thermometer readings in neonates. J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(12):SC05-8.
Gans SL, Atema JJ, Stoker M. Comparison of digital rectal and infrared ear thermometry in a paediatric emergency department. Eur J Pediatr. 2012;171(3):12-9.
