Abstract
The effect of intramuscular atropine sulphate in clinical doses on rectal temperature of 200 children living in a tropical climate was studied in the ward prior to anaesthesia and surgery. The overall maximum mean increase in temperature was small at 0.12°C (range − 0.5–+ 1.4°C). In 19.5% there was no change from preinjection values, while in 22% there was a fall of between 0.1 and 1.2°C. Increases of between 0.1 and 0.5°C were observed in 47.5%, and of 0.6–1.4°C in 11.0%. There was a weak correlation between the relative humidity of the ward and the initial body temperature and between the relative humidity and the change in body temperature. A striking inverse correlation was found between the initial body temperature and the change in body temperature. Rises of body temperature were commonest in the children who were initially rather cool. Atropine given in clinical doses caused no dangerous rise in body temperature and convulsions in the children studied.
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