Comparison of Body Temperature Between 5min and 10min Glass Mercury Thermometers in Under-5 Children in Axum Saint Mary Hospital, Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Evaluation of body temperature is one of the oldest known diagnostic methods and still an important sign of health and disease. Since rectal and oral temperature measurement are uncomfortable, less hygienic and unacceptable in many cultures; axillary has been method of choice in many countries like Ethiopia. In children decisions concerning investigation and treatment may base on results of temperature alone. Although accuracy of axillary temperature measurement is affected by a number of factors, device dwell time and device type are common. Objective: is to compare body temperature among 5 and 10 Min glass-mercury thermometer. Method: Experimental study design was used to compare body temperature among 5Minand 10Min GMT. A total of 98 samples were taken. The GMT (5 and 10min) was taken at the same axilla simultaneously. A statistical significance (p 0.75) and all the MD were fall in the limit of agreement in Bland-Altman plot. Conclusion and Recommendations: Even a statistical significant (p<0.000) difference was observed in 5 min with 10min GMT the strong correlation, their good agreement and clinical insignificant, some important advantages of 5 Min GMT makes better than 10 Min. Their variation in temperature is not likely to change any clinical decision. So health professionals should use 5Min GMT for measuring body temperature in under-5 febrile illness except for neonate. Moreover researchers should repeat the study using core temperature as gold standard for comparison.