Infrared tympanic thermometer can accurately measure the body temperature in children in an emergency room setting.

OBJECTIVE The objective in this study was to compare the accuracy of the tympanic membrane infrared thermometer with the other conventional temperature measurement options. METHODS One hundred and ten randomly selected pediatric patients who admitted to our emergency room were included in the study. Each child underwent simultaneous temperature measurement via rectum, axilla, and external auditory canal. The rectal and axillary measurements were performed using conventional mercury in glass thermometers. The aural measurement was performed using the non-contact infrared thermometer (Braun ThermoScan IRT 1020, Germany). RESULTS On aural measurement, the results of both ears as well as the first, second and third measurements were similar (P<0.01). The mean results of the axillary, rectal and tympanic temperature measurements were 37.46+/-1, 38.18+/-1, and 38.01+/-1.1, respectively. The mean axillary temperature was 0.72 degrees C lower than the mean rectal temperature, and 0.55 degrees C lower than the tympanic temperature. The difference between the mean tympanic and rectal temperatures was 0.17 degrees C. The results of measurements via rectum, axilla and ear were similar (P<0.01). CONCLUSION In conclusion, it is apparent that each of the temperature measurement options has some advantages and disadvantages. An optimal thermometer should have the following features; accurate temperature measurement; ease of application in a short while; safety and absence of potential risks; and tolerability by the patient. Since the aural infrared thermometer meets these criteria, its use in the routine clinical practice appears to be advantageous rather than or complementary to the conventional methods.

[1]  K. Stavem,et al.  Accuracy of infrared ear thermometry in adult patients , 1997, Intensive Care Medicine.

[2]  A. Giuliano,et al.  Temperature measurement in critically ill adults: a comparison of tympanic and oral methods. , 2000, American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

[3]  P. Robb,et al.  Infrared transtympanic temperature measurement and otitis media with effusion. , 2001, International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology.

[4]  M. Morgan,et al.  The Genius infrared tympanic thermometer , 1993, Anaesthesia.

[5]  J. Cashman,et al.  Lee's Synopsis of anaesthesia , 1973 .

[6]  O. Kahyaoglu,et al.  Effect of Crying on Infrared Tympanic Temperature Measurement in Pediatrics , 1997, Clinical pediatrics.

[7]  Christopher D. Richards,et al.  Human Physiology, The Basis of Medicine , 1999 .

[8]  B J Holtzclaw,et al.  Monitoring body temperature. , 1993, AACN clinical issues in critical care nursing.

[9]  Jane Bliss-Holtz,et al.  Determining Cold-Stress in Full-Term Newborns Through Temperature Site Comparisons , 1991, Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice.

[10]  A. Tomkinson,et al.  Tympanic thermometry and minor ear surgery , 1996, The Journal of Laryngology & Otology.

[11]  R S Erickson,et al.  Comparison of ear‐based, bladder, oral, and axillary methods for core temperature measurement , 1993, Critical care medicine.

[12]  B N Jensen,et al.  Accuracy of digital tympanic, oral, axillary, and rectal thermometers compared with standard rectal mercury thermometers. , 2000, The European journal of surgery = Acta chirurgica.

[13]  S. Frank,et al.  The accuracy and precision of body temperature monitoring methods during regional and general anesthesia. , 2000 .

[14]  C. Childs,et al.  Tympanic membrane temperature as a measure of core temperature , 1999, Archives of disease in childhood.

[15]  J. Bliss-Holtz.  Comparison of Rectal, Axillary, And Inguinal Temperatures In Full‐Term Newborn Infants , 1989, Nursing research.

[16]  S. Lowenstein,et al.  Measuring the accuracy of the infrared tympanic thermometer: correlation does not signify agreement. , 1995, The Journal of emergency medicine.

[17]  G. Freed,et al.  Lack of agreement of tympanic membrane temperature assessments with conventional methods in a private practice setting. , 1992, Pediatrics.

[18]  J. Fortenberry,et al.  Evaluation of an infrared tympanic membrane thermometer in pediatric patients. , 1990, Pediatrics.