Ear temperature measurements in healthy children using the arterial heat balance method

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Thermometry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate temperature measurement is crucial for diagnosing febrile illnesses in pediatric populations.
• Establishing reliable reference ranges for normal body temperature is essential for clinical practice.
• The arterial heat balance method provides a precise approach to ear temperature assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the upper limit of normal ear temperatures, defined as the 95th percentile, across different pediatric age groups.
• To establish reference values for ear temperatures in infants, children, and adolescents using a specific ear thermometer.
• To provide guidance on interpreting ear temperature readings in the pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• Ear temperatures were measured in 796 participants (infants, children, adolescents) using the LighTouch Pedi-Q ear thermometer.
• The arterial heat balance method was employed for accurate temperature measurement.
• Data were analyzed to calculate the 95th percentile for four distinct age groups.

Main Results:

• The 95th percentile upper limits of normal ear temperature were 100.1°F (37.8°C) for infants (0-2 months), 100.3°F (37.9°C) for young children (3-47 months), 99.8°F (37.7°C) for older children (48-119 months), and 99.8°F (37.7°C) for adolescents (120-227 months).
• These findings establish age-specific normal ranges for ear temperature.
• The study provides a threshold for identifying elevated ear temperatures.

Conclusions:

• Temperatures exceeding 100.0°F (37.8°C) as measured by the LighTouch Pedi-Q ear thermometer should be considered elevated in the studied pediatric age groups.
• The established 95th percentiles serve as valuable reference points for clinicians.
• Accurate ear thermometry is vital for timely and appropriate medical intervention in children.