The inaccuracy of axillary temperatures measured with an electronic thermometer
J. M. Ogren
Memorial Hospital of Sandusky County, Fremont, Ohio 43420.
Temperatures were measured using an electronic thermometer in an emergency
department to determine the relationship between oral or rectal and
axillary measurements. A total of 164 data pairs were obtained--95 in
afebrile children, and 69 in febrile children. The correlation coefficient
was .74 for oral-axillary pairs, and .70 for rectal-axillary pairs. The
mean difference between oral and axillary temperatures was 1.17 degrees C
+/- 0.72 degrees C, and between rectal and axillary temperatures was 1.81
degrees C +/- 0.97 degrees C. Using 37.4 degrees C (greater than or equal
to 2 SDs) axillary as the upper limit of normal, the sensitivity,
specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated
for detecting a fever. The sensitivity was 46%; specificity, 99%; positive
predictive value, 97%; and negative predictive value, 72% for combined
oral-axillary and rectal-axillary data. It was concluded that axillary
temperatures are not sensitive enough to determine a fever when measured
with an electronic thermometer. Electronic thermometers should be used to
determine oral or rectal temperatures; axillary temperatures may be
misleading and should be abandoned in the outpatient setting.
