A Comparison of Aural and Rectal Temperature Measurements in Young Infants

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the agreement between rectal temperature and aural temperature obtained by two brands of infrared tympanic thermometers in young infants. Patients and Methods: The rectal and aural temperatures were measured in 195 infants (mean age 21.9 days old, range 1 day to 3 months). The rectal temperatures were measured with a rectal mercury-glass thermometer, while the aural temperatures were obtained from the right ears using infrared tympanic thermometers(Diatek 9000, Diatek Inc. CA. USA; and Thermoscope 2001, Biotek Inc. Taiwan). Results: The mean differences between rectal and aural temperature measurements and between diferent-brand measurements were all statistically significant (Diatek 9000 vs rectal, mean difference =0.30℃±0.40℃,95%CI: 0.23℃~0.34℃,p＜0.001; Thermoscope 2001 vs rectal, mean difference = -0.40℃±0.30℃, 95% CI: -0.43℃~-0.34℃, P＜0.001; Diatek 9000 vs Thermoscope 2001, mean difference=0.70℃±0.40℃, 95% CI: 0.61℃~0.72℃,p＜0.001). Conclusions: The agreement between the rectal and aural temperatures using infrared tympanic thermometers in young infants is not clinically acceptable. When managing a young infant with suspicion of infection, using the rectal temperature is better. Otherwise one should interpret the aural temperature obtained by infrared tympanic thermometers carefully and keep alert to the clinical condition.