Comparison between tympanic temperature measurement with infrared ear thermometer and rectal temperature measurement with mercury clinical thermometer for children

Abstract

Objective To explore the feasibility for application of infrared ear thermometer in body temperature measurement among children. Method Ear temperature and rectal temperature of 500 children patients at outpatient and emergency departments were measured and the difference between ear temperature and rectal temperature were compared with the self-control method. With 500 children patients were divided into the following groups: 0-1 year old group, > 1-2 years old group, > 2-3 years old group, > 3-7 years old group, the difference of these two measuring methods in these different age groups were compared. Results Average rectal temperature was (38.28±0.93) ℃, higher than average ear temperature (38.06±0.92) ℃ with statically significant difference (t =-12.711, P =0.000); 0-1 year old group, > 1-2 years old group, > 2-3 years old group, > 3-7 years old group, four age groups rectal temperature minus ear temperature difference results M(Q25, Q75) were as follows: 0.2(0.0, 0.5), 0.2 (0.1, 0.4) 0.2 (0.0,0.4) 0.2(0.0,0.4), which meant the difference between two temperature measurement methods in different age groups showed that the difference was not statistically significant (H=0.600, P =0.896); ear temperature and rectal temperature were linearly correlated (r=0.915, P =0.000); taking rectal temperature as Y and ear temperature as X, the regression equation was =3.080+0.925X; with rectal temperature of ≥38.0℃ as golden standard, the area in ROC curve of ear temperature was 0.97 and correct diagnosis index of ear temperature was highly correct. Therefore, as for whether a child is diagnosed as fever based on the ear temperature, it is recommended that the ear temperature be ≥37.8℃; the difference of fever incidence for rectal temperature method of 58.2% and fever incident for ear temperature method of 57.2% was determined as not statistically significant (χ2=0.102, P=0.749). Conclusions Infrared ear thermometer may be used for measuring children′s body temperature by replacing mercury rectal thermometer; however, ear temperature should be different from rectal temperature in terms of criteria for clinical judgment of fever. Key words: Children; Temperature measuring method; Infrared ear thermometer; Mercury clinical thermometer