Optimization of the Recommended Time for Rectal Temperature Measurement in Children: An Observational Study - Open Journal of Pediatrics

OJPed > Vol.9 No.2, June 2019

Optimization of the Recommended Time for Rectal Temperature Measurement in Children: An Observational Study ()

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DOI: 10.4236/ojped.2019.92015 1,031 Downloads 2,659 Views

Author(s)

Qian Zhao^1,2, Yanwei Li³, Leshan Zhou^1,2*

Affiliation(s)

¹Nursing School of Central South University, Changsha, China.
²Hunan Provincial Research Center for Women and Children Health, Changsha, China.
³Pediatric Department, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

ABSTRACT

Background: This study aimed to determine the optimum time required to measure rectal temperature in children with mercury-in-glass thermometers. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study involved a random sample of pediatric patients ≤5 years of age. Body temperature was measured for 3 - 5 minutes using standard mercury-in-glass rectal thermometers. Outcomes were rectal body temperatures at 1, 2, and 3 minutes until reaching a stable rectal temperature, and the final rectal temperature. Results: This study recruited 120 children. Mean time to reach a stable rectal temperature was 1.8 minutes (range: 30 seconds to five minutes). 90% of pediatric patients’ temperature came out within ±0.1°C of the final temperature at two minutes. There was no correlation between the time taken to reach a stable rectal temperature and age, body weight, gender, or the final temperature. Conclusion: Mercury-in-glass thermometers can be used to obtain accurate rectal temperature measurements at two minutes in routine pediatric practice.

KEYWORDS

Fever, Mercury Thermometer, Pediatrics, Rectal Temperature

Share and Cite:

Zhao, Q. , Li, Y. and Zhou, L. (2019) Optimization of the Recommended Time for Rectal Temperature Measurement in Children: An Observational Study. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 9, 139-147. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2019.92015.

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