Rectal or axillary temperature has been considered the gold standard for measuring core temperature, although there are obvious limitations to this procedure. The usual recommendation is to keep the low reading mercury thermometer (25°C/77°F) for 3-5 minutes in axilla or groin(1,2). The time required to obtain a stabilized reading as documented in western literature using a digital thermometer is about 30-45 seconds at either side(3). But there is no study published in our setup regarding this.

In this hospital based, prospective, cohort study, all neonates of any gestation or mode of delivery after initial stabilization (preferably within 1 hour of birth) without congenital anomalies or any sickness or distress were examined in Brazelton stage between I to III. Electronic Thermometer used was Dr.Morgan Digital model MT-219. Vega Technologies Inc. Taipei, Taiwan. An ordinary mercury skin thermometer (Hick’s) was also used.

Duration of study was from October 2007 to August 2008. Total 100 neonates were examined and data analysed. Both the thermometers were simultaneously used-one in either axilla of the neonate. The stop watch was started immediately after placing them. The Hick’s thermometer was kept for 3 minutes and temperature was documented. The electronic thermometer was removed and stop watch locked as soon as the steady beep was heard and temperature and time needed were both documented. The environmental temperature was also documented.

The mean time required for documenting a temperature by a electronic thermometer in axilla was 56.34±1.54 for term neonates (>2500g) and 54.87±1.23 secs for low birth weight (<2500g). The time required for documenting temperature did not change significantly (P<0.01) with environmental temperature. The skin temperature measured by the ordinary mercury thermometer did not differ significantly from that noted by keeping the electronic one (P< 0.01).

The present study is limited due to small study population. And that may be the cause of higher mean time in our study (56.34±1.54 s) than reported in western literature (30-45 s). But using an electronic thermometer (Rs 200/-) instead of an ordinary one (Rs 60/-) will save valuable time ( about >2min) for a peripheral health worker who has to manage all resuscitation procedures single-handedly.