Temperature measurement in pediatric trauma patients: A comparison of thermometry and measurement routes,☆☆,

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0099-1767(99)70063-2Get rights and content

Section snippets

Temperature measurement sites

When selecting a site for frequent temperature measurements in pediatric trauma patients, emergency nurses should consider factors related to temperature measurement, safety, accuracy, and compliance (Table 1).

. Comparisons of thermometry and measurement routes

Temperature route/placementAdvantagesDisadvantages
Oral (placement of probe into the sublingual pocket at the junction of the tongue base and mouth floor)•Easy to obtain; noninvasive• Unable to use with infants and young children
• Unable to

First page preview

First page preview
Click to open first page preview

References (25)

  • S. Frank

    Body temperature monitoring

    Anesth Clin North Am

    (1994)
  • D. Fritsch

    Hypothermia in the trauma patient

    AACN Clin Issues

    (1995)
  • Cited by (14)

    • Infrared image method for possible COVID-19 detection through febrile and subfebrile people screening

      2023, Journal of Thermal Biology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Several aspects of the method are still debatable, and no consensus has been achieved to date. Not only is the most appropriate temperature recording site under discussion, i.e., forehead (Antabak et al., 2016; Chan et al., 2006; Chiang et al., 2008; Chiu et al., 2005; Hewlett et al., 2011; Ng et al., 2004, 2005; Sun et al., 2017), tympanic (Bernardo et al., 1999), eyes (Fitriyah et al., 2017; Mercer and Ring, 2003; Vardasca et al., 2019), temporal (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020a; Cruz-Albarran et al., 2020; Teran et al., 2012; Zhou et al., 2020), but also the effect of the surroundings on the measurement accuracy (Dagdanpurev et al., 2018; Zhou et al., 2020), as well as the ceiling normal temperature for the general population fever tracking (Biomedical and Health Standards Committee, 2020a, 2020b; Childs, 2018; Gomolin et al., 2005; Zhou et al., 2020). Furthermore, the method might be proven ineffective in controlling COVID-19 spread caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, since it has been found that more than 70% of the people who contracted the virus do not even present fever in the initial stages of the disease (Bhat et al., 2020; Li et al., 2020; Michelen et al., 2020; Ng and Kaw, n. d.; Zhou et al., 2020).

    • Frequency of fever in pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department with non-illness-related conditions

      2013, Journal of Emergency Nursing
      Citation Excerpt :

      Non-invasive methods of screening children for temperature elevation when presenting with non–illness-related conditions are appropriate for this low-risk group. Bernardo, Henker, and O'Connor2 provided a comprehensive list of advantages and disadvantages for a variety of thermometry and measurement routes to inform clinical decisions, and this list remains relevant today. An ED protocol for pediatric temperature measurement based on presenting condition may be effective and efficient.

    • Comparison of Temporal Artery to Rectal Temperature Measurements in Children Up to 24 Months

      2011, Journal of Pediatric Nursing
      Citation Excerpt :

      Oral thermometry is not feasible in infants and toddlers and in children with decreased mentation, who are afraid or uncooperative, who are receiving oxygen therapy, who are orally intubated, or have maxillofacial trauma or seizures (Bernardo et al., 1999; Bowden & Greenberg, 2008). In addition, oral thermometry readings vary with probe placement and duration of placement (Bernardo et al., 1999). In trauma patients with hypothermia, oral thermometry is unpredictable because it does not reflect the core body temperature (Fritsch, 1995).

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    Section Editors: Deborah Parkman Henderson, RN, PhD, and Donna Ojanen Thomas, RN, MSN, CEN

    ☆☆

    J Emerg Nurs 1999;25:327-9.

    18/9/100369

    View full text