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The use of infrared thermometry for the detection of fever

Alastair D Hay1, Tim J Peters, Andrew Wilson

  • 1Division of Primary Health Care, University of Bristol. alastair.hay@bristol.ac.uk

The British Journal of General Practice : the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
|June 10, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Tympanic infrared thermometry is not sensitive enough for screening fever in children. However, it may help confirm fever when suspected by touch in primary care settings.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Primary Care Medicine
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Tympanic thermometry offers convenience in primary care.
  • Limited data exists comparing tympanic thermometry with traditional methods.
  • Accurate fever detection is crucial in pediatric primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the accuracy of tympanic infrared thermometry against axillary mercury thermometry in preschool children.
  • To evaluate tympanic thermometry's utility as a screening and diagnostic tool for fever in primary care.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 94 preschool children with acute cough in UK primary care.
  • Comparison of tympanic infrared and axillary mercury thermometers.
  • Analysis of agreement, sensitivity, and specificity.

Main Results:

  • Tympanic infrared thermometry demonstrated poor agreement and low sensitivity.
  • High specificity was observed for tympanic infrared thermometry.
  • The device was found to be too insensitive for fever screening.

Conclusions:

  • Tympanic infrared thermometry is unsuitable as a standalone fever screening tool for children.
  • It may serve as a 'rule in' test for fever when clinical suspicion is already present.
  • Further research on accurate pediatric thermometry in primary care is warranted.

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