Tympanic temperature comparison with oral mercury thermometer readings in an OPD setting.
OBJECTIVE
To observe and compare the Tympanic Temperature (TT) readings with the Oral Mercury Thermometer (OMT) in an OPD setting.


METHODS
Observational comparative study.


METHODS
The Outpatient Department, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from June to September 2008.


METHODS
By consecutive sampling, 2000 OPD patients were included in the study. Both tympanic membrane and oral cavity temperatures were recorded in each patient. Patients were grouped into four age classes i.e. 5-16, 17-40, 41-60 and above 60 years. Taking the oral temperature as a standard, tympanic temperature recordings were analyzed in each age group for afebrile and febrile temperature ranges. An intra-class Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was calculated for closeness of correlation of TT with OMT in each group.


RESULTS
Mean age of the sample was 31.84+/-19.42 years. Mean temperature reading from the OMT was 36.732+/-0.66 degrees C, while the mean TT reading was 36.575+/-0.71 degrees C. Overall correlation between OMT and TT readings was 0.871 (p<0.001); higher correlation was found in children as compared to adults. In the febrile range, a strongly positive correlation of TT with OMT in the 5-16 years age group (r=0.945) was seen. A poor correlation of TT with OMT was noted for 41-60 and 60 plus groups (r=0.394 and 0.342 respectively). TT was found to have very high specificities in all age groups; highest of 100 in 17-40 years age group. The sensitivities were generally low, the lowest being 33.33 in 60 plus age group.


CONCLUSIONS
TT measurement is a quick method for temperature recording in a busy OPD. However, it is reliable mainly for a younger population.
Department of ENT, Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad. zafrab@yahoo.com
Mohammad Zafar
MZ
Rabbani
Mohammed
M
Amir
Munir
M
Malik
Mazhar
M
Mufti
Mohammad
M
Bin Pervez
Sahar
S
Iftekhar
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013821:Thermometers; D014432:Tympanic Membrane; D055815:Young Adult