Browsing by Author "GS, Harikumaran Nair"
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Publication Diagnostic Accuracy of Axillary and Forehead Thermometer Compared to Tympanic Thermometer among Children(Perinatal Society of Nepal (PESON), 2024) Swapna, Kunnumpurath Gopalan; GS, Harikumaran Nair; K, Rajamohanan; P, NamithaAbstract: Background and objectives: Fever is a common manifestation of illness among children which results from infectious and non-infectious processes. Different types of measuring instruments are used at various sites to monitor body temperature. No methods accurately approximate peripheral body temperature to core temperature. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of axillary and forehead thermometers in comparison with tympanic thermometer among children (1 to 5 years) and to compare the comfort during the three measurements. Methods: This observational study of diagnostic accuracy had a sample consisted of 728 consecutively selected children. Temperature measured using forehead thermometer (index test), axillary thermometer (comparator) and tympanic thermometer (reference test). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated. COMFORT-B scale used to assess comfort. Reporting format- STARD-2015. Results: The sensitivity and specificity for axillary method were 93%, 94% and for forehead thermometer were 95%, 96% respectively. The Receiver Operator Characteristics- Area Under the Curve (ROC AUC) for axillary thermometer was 0.982 and for forehead thermometer 0.99. Median (IQR) scores were 14 (7) for axillary and 14 (6) for forehead and tympanic measurements. The median comfort scores were statistically not statistically significant. (p>0.05). Conclusion: Both methods were good as screening methods for fever in children in the age group of 1-5 years. The forehead thermometer had a better diagnostic performance and accuracy and more comfortable.