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Tympanic membrane temperature as a measure of core temperature
C Childs1, R Harrison, C Hodkinson
1Regional Paediatric Burns Unit, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Blackley, Manchester, UK.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|May 18, 1999
Summary
Ear thermometer measurements show variability between ears, with differences up to 0.6°C. For accurate core body temperature, use the same ear for repeated readings and take multiple measurements.
Area of Science:
- Medical Devices
- Thermometry
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Ear thermometers are increasingly used for measuring core body temperature.
- Variability in tympanic membrane temperature measurements requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the variability of ear temperature measurements taken by a single user.
- To determine the reliability of ear thermometers in different pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Measurements were taken from afebrile and febrile children, including those with acute burns.
- Temperature readings were recorded from both ears, as well as other sites (rectum, axilla, bladder) in febrile children.
- Operator measurement error was calculated from consecutive readings in the same ear.
Main Results:
- In afebrile children, ear temperature differences reached 0.6°C. Operator error was 0.13°C.
- In febrile children, agreement between ears was poor (limits of agreement 0.4°C to -0.8°C).
- Measurement error was 0.19°C for the left ear and 0.11°C for the right ear in febrile children.
Conclusions:
- Measurement error between consecutive readings (0.1-0.2°C) is likely acceptable.
- To minimize temperature variations, consistently use the same ear for all measurements.
- Taking multiple readings from the same ear is recommended for improved accuracy.