title: Temporal artery temperature measurements do not detect hyperthermic marathon runners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exertional heat stroke is a cause of collapse in marathon runners. Rectal temperature (T(rectal)) measurement is the usual method of estimating core temperature in collapsed runners, and temporal artery thermometer (TAT) measurement is untested for field use in marathon runners and other athletes. The objective of this study is to compare TAT measurement with T(rectal) measurement in collapsed marathon runners.
  
  
  METHODS
  TAT-500i (Exergen Corp, Wellesley, MA) temperature measurements were obtained using the manufacturer's instruction manual on 60 collapsed marathon runners who had T(rectal) measurements in the finish area medical tent during two consecutive annual races.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TAT temperatures identified only 2 of 17 hyperthermic runners (T(rectal) > 39.4 degrees C (103 degrees F)), a sensitivity of only 0.12, and a Pearson' correlation coefficient of 0.374 (r = 0.14). Among the 17 hyperthermic runners, the correlation of T(rectal) to TAT temperatures was 0.526 (r = 0.28) with a mean +/- SD T(rectal) of 40.7 +/- 0.94 degrees C (105.1 +/- 1.7 degrees F) and a mean +/- SD TAT temperature of 37.4+/- 1.3 degrees C (99.4 +/- 2.4 degrees F). Among the 43 collapsed normothermic runners, there was no correlation between the rectal and the TAT measurements (r = -0.142, P = 0.37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that there is little association between the temperatures obtained by temporal artery measurement and T(rectal) measurement in collapsed marathon runners and that TAT temperature is unable to identify hyperthermic runners. Based on these findings, TAT measurement should not be used to assess core body temperature or make treatment decisions for marathon runners with potential exertional heat stroke.
authors.affiliation: Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care, Wyoming, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ronneberg
authors.forename: William O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Alexander Duncan
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: McBean
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Center
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018883:Heat Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000502:physiology*