Temporal Artery Thermometry to Detect Pediatric Fever.
This research investigated effectiveness of temporal artery thermometry (TAT) to detect high rectal fever in children ≥ 91 days and ≤ 4 years old. Rectal temperature was initially evaluated immediately followed by TAT. As expected, the difference between mean rectal (38.05 ± .99 °C) and mean TA (37.55 ± .8 °C) temperatures in subjects (N = 239) was significant (p < .0001). Linear regression revealed TAT underestimated rectal thermometry with greater frequency at higher temperatures. This observation provides probable explanation for the disparity between these thermometry methods. A TAT sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 85% were determined for detecting high fever (39 °C)-a finding clinically unacceptable. In contrast, among the small number of injured subjects enrolled, TAT detected high rectal fever with 100% sensitivity and specificity. This finding, if confirmed, suggests TAT screening for well and injured children has potential for clinical practice by diminishing rectal measurements and their associated risks in the acute care and/or ambulatory practice setting.
Catawba Valley Medical Center, Hickory, NC, USA amoore@catawbavalleymc.org.
Ann Hudson
AH
Moore
Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Julie Dagenhart
JD
Carrigan
Catawba Valley Medical Center, Hickory, NC, USA.
David M
DM
Solomon
Catawba Valley Medical Center, Hickory, NC, USA.
Rebecca Creech
RC
Tart
D001831:Body Temperature; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013699:Temporal Arteries; D062125:Thermometry / Q000379:methods*
Emergency Department; fever; pediatric patients; rectal thermometry; temporal artery thermometry