Accuracy of temporal artery thermometry in neonatal intensive care infants.

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of temporal artery and axillary temperatures and the discomfort level of stable neonates during temperature measurement. SUBJECTS: Convenience sample of neonates between the ages of 32 and 40 weeks' gestation cared for in an isolette or crib. DESIGN: A method-comparison design was used to compare different methods for noninvasive temperature monitoring (infra-red temporal artery; axillary electronic) to core body temperatures (indwelling rectal probe). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Bias and precision of test temperature devices (temporal artery; axillary). RESULTS: Bias and precision for the temporal artery and axillary devices were 0.30 ± 0.44 and 0.28 ± 0.33, respectively. Analysis of variance found significant differences between both temporal and axillary temperatures compared to rectal temperatures (P < .01). Statistical differences were small and did not represent a clinically important difference. No statistical difference was found between temporal artery and axillary temperatures (P = .81). Increases in neonate discomfort after temperature measurement were significantly greater with axillary than increases after temporal artery temperature measurement (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that body temperature measured with the temporal artery thermometer was similar to temperatures obtained with an axillary thermometer in stable, afebrile neonates. The use of temporal artery thermometry appears to be an acceptable approach for noninvasive temperature measurement in neonates, which causes less discomfort in neonates.

Growth pattern of overweight preschool children in the Siouxland WIC program.

Demographic, nutritional, and anthropometric data were collected from 134 preschool children enrolled in the Siouxland Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). All children were diagnosed as overweight between the ages of 8 months and 3 years. Weight and length/height z-scores were calculated for birth measurements and for postnatal measurements up to 3 years. The main hypothesis involved stability of weight and length/height z-scores between successive WIC visits. Average changes in z-scores between measurements were calculated and tested for significance using paired t-tests. Multiple regression analysis was used to test relationships between changes in weight z-scores and demographic/nutritional characteristics. The overweight group had a higher percentage of Hispanic children than the total Siouxland WIC population. Overweight children were also significantly different in terms of birthweight, monthly household income, number in the house, and mother's education level. The children displayed a large average increase in weight z-scores between birth and 8 months (P < 0.001). Weight z-scores also increased significantly between 12 and 30 months. Length z-scores increased significantly between 18 and 30 months but remained lower than weight z-scores. Initial weight, sex of child, breastfeeding, and household size were significantly related to changes in weight z-scores among overweight children. Results of recent studies suggest that rapid weight gain in infancy may increase the risk of overweight during later childhood.