We have located links that may give you full text access.
COMPARATIVE STUDY
ENGLISH ABSTRACT
JOURNAL ARTICLE
[Measurement of fever in children--is infrared tympanic thermometry reliable?].
BACKGROUND: Our objective was to determine whether infrared tympanic thermometry is as reliable as the rectal digital thermometer. Earlier reports have given conflicting results on the issue.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: 199 children aged 1 month to 12 years were included in the study. Rectal temperature and the temperature in at least one ear were obtained from all of the children. Children with perforated otitis media, intracranial tumours or treated with immunosuppressive medication were excluded from the study.
RESULTS: The mean temperature in the rectum was 0.4 degree C higher than in the ear. The tympanic and the rectal readings were strongly correlated (r = 0.83, p = 0.01). With a definition of fever as rectal temperature > or = 38 degrees C the sensitivity of the tympanic thermometry was 71%, the specificity 95%, the positive predictive value 93%, and the negative predictive value 78%.
INTERPRETATION: Infrared tympanic thermometry has obvious advantages compared to rectal measurements: It is more hygienic, faster and less painful for the child. However, its sensitivity is rather low when used in an emergency department. This means that a number of children with fever will not be diagnosed as such.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: 199 children aged 1 month to 12 years were included in the study. Rectal temperature and the temperature in at least one ear were obtained from all of the children. Children with perforated otitis media, intracranial tumours or treated with immunosuppressive medication were excluded from the study.
RESULTS: The mean temperature in the rectum was 0.4 degree C higher than in the ear. The tympanic and the rectal readings were strongly correlated (r = 0.83, p = 0.01). With a definition of fever as rectal temperature > or = 38 degrees C the sensitivity of the tympanic thermometry was 71%, the specificity 95%, the positive predictive value 93%, and the negative predictive value 78%.
INTERPRETATION: Infrared tympanic thermometry has obvious advantages compared to rectal measurements: It is more hygienic, faster and less painful for the child. However, its sensitivity is rather low when used in an emergency department. This means that a number of children with fever will not be diagnosed as such.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment.Clinical Research in Cardiology : Official Journal of the German Cardiac Society 2024 April 12
Proximal versus distal diuretics in congestive heart failure.Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation 2024 Februrary 30
Efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in chronic insomnia: A review of clinical guidelines and case reports.Mental Health Clinician 2023 October
World Health Organization and International Consensus Classification of eosinophilic disorders: 2024 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management.American Journal of Hematology 2024 March 30
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app