Key Point: Mothers can correctly use infrared skin forehead thermometers on newborns at home. Not only are these thermometers safer than rectal glass mercury thermometers, but they are easier to use. A study showed that mothers and physicians got similar results using the forehead thermometers. The mothers also got results from digital axillary thermometers that correlated with those of physicians, but the measurement took 3 minutes, compared to 2 seconds with the forehead thermometers.
A comparison of newborn temperature taken by rectal glass mercury thermometer (RGMT), digital axillary thermometer (DAT), and infrared forehead skin thermometer (IFST) has found that both DAT and IFST when used by mothers are more accurate than RGMT when used by mothers. Temperature is an important vital sign in newborns, and it is essential to detect it accurately. The study, published in the Indian Journal of Pediatrics, is important because thermometers used in newborns must be safe, and RGMTs carry the risk of perforation. But there have been conflicting reports raising “doubts regarding the accuracy and reliability” of the newer DATs and IFSTs.
Mothers at home can correctly use infrared skin forehead thermometers on newborns:
- These thermometers are safer and easier to use than rectal glass mercury thermometers
- Mothers and physicians got similar results using the forehead thermometers in this study
- Mothers also got results similar to physicians when using digital axillary thermometers,...
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Infrared skin forehead thermometers best for mother’s at-home use on newborns
A comparison of newborn temperature taken by rectal glass mercury thermometer (RGMT), digital axillary thermometer (DAT), and infrared forehead skin thermometer (IFST) has found that both DAT and IFST when used by mothers are more accurate than RGMT when used by mothers. Temperature is an important vital sign in newborns, and it is essential to detect it accurately. The study, published in the Indian Journal of Pediatrics, is important because thermometers used in newborns must be safe, and RGMTs carry the risk of perforation. But there have been conflicting reports raising “doubts regarding the accuracy and reliability” of the newer DATs and IFSTs.
Mothers at home can correctly use infrared skin forehead thermometers on newborns: