Comparison of axillary, rectal and tympanic temperature measurements in children admitted with malaria

We compared axillary, rectal and tympanic temperatures in children admitted with severe malaria. The axillary temperatures were 0.74 degrees C (95% limits of agreement -0.85 to 2.33 degrees C) less than rectal temperatures and tympanic temperatures 0.42 degrees C (95% limits of agreement -0.16 to 2.44 degrees C) less than rectal temperatures. The difference was greater on admission than 24 hours later. These differences may be important in defining criteria for clinical syndromes.