[What alternatives to rectal temperature recording with a mercury thermometer?].
Fiche publication
Date publication
décembre 1997
Journal
Revue d'epidemiologie et de sante publique
Auteurs
Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr PAZART Lionel
Tous les auteurs :
Pazart L, Devilliers E, Bouté C, Aho S, Rupin C, Gouyon JB
Lien Pubmed
Résumé
Fever is a major symptom to characterize individual health status. Measurement of temperature is systematically made in everyday medical practice. In France, this measurement is generally assumed with a rectal glass mercury thermometer. In order to protect people and the environment, the "Conseil Supérieur d'Hygiène Publique de France" has approved recommendations to withdrawn medical use of mercury, specifically for thermometer. Rectal measurement is also debated since infectious risks are described. Thus, substitution of rectal glass mercury thermometer is on the agenda. New sites and techniques for measurement of temperature have been studied through a literature review, interview of experts and companies, and clinical research protocols. Cutaneous and axillary measurements are inaccurate and unsatisfactory. Two methods seems to be worth: oral measurement and tympanic measurement. Oral measurement is widespread in the world. This technique has some limits. Tympanic measurement is a new method in progress without these limits. Whatever the choice of the technique is, the substitution of rectal glass mercury thermometer requires training and awareness of staff and patients.
Mots clés
Axilla, Body Temperature, Fever, diagnosis, Glass, Health Personnel, education, Humans, Mercury, Mouth Mucosa, Rectum, Reproducibility of Results, Skin Temperature, Thermometers, standards, Tympanic Membrane
Référence
Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 1997 Dec;45(6):516-26