[Central and peripheral temperature in pediatrics (author's transl)].

Because of the absence of enough data in the literature of normal values of differential temperature in the pediatric age, authors have registred rectal temperature and peripheral temperature on the tip of the great toe with the use of a thermistor as well as differential temperatures between both of them in 100 children which were divided in four groups depending upon the ages. All of these children had clinical evidence of normovolemia. All the tempertaure recordings were done under constant temperature and constant environmental humidity. The following data were found: Group I (newborn infants between 1-30 days): delta T = 6.08 degrees C; +/- 1.74 SD. Group II (infants between 1-12 months); delta T = 5.91 degrees C; +/- 2.0350 SD. Group III (children between 1-3 years): delta T = 5.39 degrees C; +/- 2.14 SD. Group IV (children between 3-8 years): delta T = 4.78 degrees C; +/- 2.14 SD. Difference between central and peripheral temperatures recorded at constant environmental temperature and humidity is an early and sensible measure of peripheral perfussion degree and is an easy economical and non-aggressive method of monitoring shock syndrome in children.