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Skin temperature measurement using an infrared thermometer on patients who have been exposed to cold
Ufuk Erenberk1, Emel Torun, Emin Ozkaya
1Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Childrens skin temperature readings may be inaccurate after cold exposure. Wait at least 10 minutes indoors for accurate fever detection in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Clinical Thermometry
Background:
- Investigating the impact of cold environmental exposure on pediatric skin temperature readings.
- Assessing potential inaccuracies in fever detection due to pre-measurement conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if cold outdoor exposure affects skin temperature measurements in febrile children.
- To establish optimal conditions for accurate pediatric temperature assessment.
Main Methods:
- Infrared thermometry used to measure forehead and chest skin temperatures in 150 children (3-10 years).
- Simultaneous temperature readings taken every 2 minutes for 14 minutes post-presentation.
- Analysis of temperature differences between body sites.
Main Results:
- Forehead and chest skin temperatures equalized by the 10-minute mark post-presentation.
- Initial temperature discrepancies were observed due to cold exposure.
Conclusions:
- Temperature readings from cold-exposed body parts can yield inaccurate fever results.
- A minimum 10-minute acclimation period indoors is recommended before taking temperature readings for accurate fever detection in children.
- Ensuring children acclimate to indoor temperatures is crucial for reliable fever diagnosis.
Background:
The aim of this study was to determine if the skin temperature of febrile children is affected by the child's exposure to cold outdoor temperatures immediately prior to the taking of that temperature.
Methods:
A total of 150 febrile and non-febrile children (aged 3-10 years) who had walked to the hospital's pediatric emergency department and were thus exposed to outside cold weather were enrolled in the study. Using infrared thermometry, forehead and chest skin temperatures were simultaneously measured every 2 min during the first 14 min after presentation. Temperatures were recorded and differences between the two measurements were calculated.
Results:
By the fifth evaluation (10 min from the first reading), skin temperatures from forehead and chest had equalized.
Conclusion:
Determination of fever from the body parts that had been exposed to cold environmental conditions may cause contradictory results if taken while the child is still chilled from exposure to the cold. For accuracy, children should be acclimated to the indoor temperature before taking body temperature readings. Acclimation takes at least 10 min after coming in from cold weather outside.
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