title: Determining peripheral skin temperature: subjective versus objective measurements.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diseases that affect peripheral vasculature or neurological function can manifest with peripheral skin temperature abnormalities. This pilot study investigates the accuracy of current physical examination techniques and determines whether a hand-held infrared device can be used to estimate peripheral skin temperature and detect temperature disparities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison between traditional physical examination of hands/feet by 30 healthcare professionals and a hand-held infrared device was made in 12 individuals (ages 4-25 years; 5 with disorders affecting peripheral skin temperature). Thermal camera measurements served as the reference temperature for comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 231 extremity examinations by healthcare professionals were analysed. Healthcare professionals correctly identified subjects with colder or warmer than normal peripheral temperature. Hand-held device measurements were significantly different than reference measurements, with the size of the temperature difference diverging significantly between hands (1.20°C) and feet (0.78°C). When analysing temperature disparities, healthcare professionals identified fewer clinically significant disparities (≥3.0°C) than the hand-held device (76% vs. 99%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although different from reference temperatures, the hand-held infrared device provided a more accurate and objective method than traditional physical exam in identifying peripheral skin temperature asymmetries that may be related to chronic paediatric illness.
authors.affiliation: Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP), Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.|Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.affiliation: Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP), Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rand
authors.affiliation: Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP), Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.|Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP), Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charnay
authors.affiliation: Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP), Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP), Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Briseyda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.affiliation: Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP), Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vitez
authors.affiliation: Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP), Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP), Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.|Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weese-Mayer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019719:Diagnostic Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012881:Skin Temperature; D055986:Vital Signs; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hand-held infrared device; Infrared thermography; Peripheral skin temperature; Temperature asymmetry