title: Continuous infrared thermometry of the nasal mucosa.
abstract: This study aims to continuously measure nasal mucosal temperature without interruption of nasal breathing using infrared thermometry. An infrared thermometer (Medi-Therm 310; Everest Interscience, Inc.) was directed at the nasal septum from a distance of 15 cm. Infrared radiation was continuously collected, then converted to an electrical signal proportional to the mucosal temperature and output to a chart recorder. In 70 subjects the mean nasal mucosal temperature was 30.4 +/- 2.0 degrees C on inspiration and 32.0 +/- 1.8 degrees C on expiration. Using multiple regression, nasal mucosal temperature was significantly related to atmospheric temperature (p < 0.0001) and inversely related to the airway patency of the ipsilateral nasal passage (p < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: ENT-Department, University of Manchester School of Medicine, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Willatt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology*; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*