Comparison of tympanic and rectal temperature in febrile patients |
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Authors: | Sehgal Arvind Dubey N K Jyothi M C Jain Shilpa |
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Institution: | (1) Division of Emergency and Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, New Delhi, India;(2) Flat No. 26, UCO Apartments, Sector-9, Rohini, 110 085 Delhi, India |
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Abstract: | Objective. To compare tympanic membrane temperature and rectal temperature in febrile pediatric patients.Methods. Sixty febrile children were enrolled as continuous enrollment at initial triage. Two readings of ear temperature were taken
in each child with Thermoscan infrared thermometer. Rectal temperature was recorded by a digital electronic thermometer. Comparison
of both the techniques was done and co-relation co-efficients calculated. Parental preference for both techniques was assessed.Results. It was observed that mean ear temperature was 38.9±0.90C and that for rectal temperature was 38.8±0.8°C. The correlation
coefficient between the two was 0.994 (p < 0.01). Coefficients for both sites were comparable over a wide age range. The difference
between readings taken from two ears was not significant. Temperature ranges over which readings were recorded were quite
wide for both techniques. Parental preference for tympanic thermometry over rectal thermometry was noticed. Tympanic thermometry
utilizes pyro-electric sensors, to detect infra-red rays emitted from the surface of tympanic membrane. Ear temperatures correlates
well with rectal temperatures which have long been considered as “core” temperatures. Parents prefer the technique of ear
thermometry which is quick (2 sec), safe and non-invasive and patient resistance for this is also less.Conclusion. A non-invasive, non-mucous device which is accurate over a wide range of temperature could be very useful. |
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Keywords: | Tympanic temperature Rectal temperature Core |
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