Comparison of rectal and axillary temperatures in neonates admitted to a neonatal unit.

To determine whether axillary temperature could be used as an alternative to rectal temperature, 45 neonates were subjected to simultaneous rectal temperature and axillary temperature recordings. Each baby had an average of 10 recordings over the first 72 hours. The mean of these readings was taken and subjected to regression analysis and the 't' paired test. The overall mean difference between the rectal and axillary temperature was 0.3 degrees F. The mean difference was least in preterm small for date (SFD) babies (0.2 degrees F) and most in preterm appropriate for date (AFD) babies (0.5 degrees F). The mean difference was less in incubator babies (0.2 degrees F) compared to those in warmer cradles (0.4 degrees F). The regression analysis showed that the correlation was good in all groups except the term small for date babies. We conclude that axillary temperature could be used as an alternative to rectal temperature in neonates.