[The ear thermometer; not a good replacement for the rectal thermometer].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the measurements of body temperature with the tympanic infrared thermometer and the digital rectal thermometer.


METHODS
Prospective, comparative.


METHODS
Beatrix Hospital, Gorinchem, the Netherlands.


METHODS
A total of 2057 almost simultaneous measurements of rectal and tympanic temperature were performed in 164 patients in 9 different wards.


RESULTS
The mean difference between the two methods was 0.45 degree C with a standard deviation of 0.57 degree C. The tympanic temperature was lower than the rectal temperature. The differences ranged from -1.5 to 3.6 degrees C. The correlation coefficient was 0.69. If a rectal temperature > 37.8 degrees C was applied as the criterion of fever, the diagnosis was not made in 175/291 measuring moments (60%) with the tympanic thermometer. If a tympanic temperature > 37.8 degrees C was applied as the criterion of fever, the rectal thermometer failed to show fever in 16/132 measuring moments (12%).


CONCLUSIONS
The low sensitivity of the tympanic measurement to establish fever renders the tympanic infrared thermometer unsuitable for use as a fever thermometer.
Van Berkel
M
M
Beatrix Ziekenhuis, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Stichting Zorginstellingen Gorinchem.
Jooren
M C
MC
Timmermans
A
A
van der Velde
E A
EA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001831:Body Temperature; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum; D013821:Thermometers / Q000592:standards*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
De oorthermometer: geen goede vervanger van de rectale thermometer.