Probing temperature readings at different body sites

Abstract

Greenes et al report a study of concurrent measurement of rectal and temporal artery temperature in febrile children after administration of an antipyretic. They found that temperature measured at the temporal artery was lower and fell slightly faster than did that measured in the rectum—an interesting physiologic finding. Although parents fearful of elevated temperatures might themselves feel better with temporal artery readings, and the authors question the validity of the current standard of rectal thermometry, rectal temperature has been the reproducible measurement used to date for which we have a body of matched clinical data that make it a useful marker. Greenes et al report a study of concurrent measurement of rectal and temporal artery temperature in febrile children after administration of an antipyretic. They found that temperature measured at the temporal artery was lower and fell slightly faster than did that measured in the rectum—an interesting physiologic finding. Although parents fearful of elevated temperatures might themselves feel better with temporal artery readings, and the authors question the validity of the current standard of rectal thermometry, rectal temperature has been the reproducible measurement used to date for which we have a body of matched clinical data that make it a useful marker.