Does Tympanic Temperature Measure Up?

Wells, Nancy; King, Joan M.; Hedstrom, Christa; Youngkins, Jeanne

doi:10.1097/00005721-199503000-00007

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…There are conflicting results as regards this subject. Some authors consider tympanic measurement the best method for non-invasive measurement [19-21], some authors recommend an auxiliary measurement because it is easy to perform and generally well tolerated. However, it is not very sensitive [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only 26.2% of physicians took into consideration signs and symptoms other than fever (malaise, irritability, signs of infection) to prescribe antipyretic. In fact according to guidelines, antipyretics should not be used routinely in management of a febrile child [20,21]. Use of antipyretics in children is recommended in case of prolonged crying, irritability, reduced activity and sleeplessness [27].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions of primary care physicians regarding fever in children: a cross sectional study

Demir

Sekreter²

2012

Ital J Pediatr

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BackgroundFever is an extremely common sign in paediatric patients and the most common cause for a child to be taken to the doctor. The literature indicates that physicians and parents have too many misconceptions and conflicting results about fever management. In this study we aim to identify knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions of primary care physicians regarding fever in children.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in April-May 2010 involving primary care physicians (n=80). The physicians were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used.ResultsIn our study only 10% of the physicians knew that a body temperature of above 37.2°C according to an auxiliary measurement is defined as fever. Only 26.2% of the physicians took into consideration signs and symptoms other than fever to prescribe antipyretics. 85% of the physicians prescribed antipyretics to control fever or prevent complications of fever especially febrile seizures. Most of the physicians (76.3%) in this study reported that the height of fever may be used as an indicator for severe bacterial infection. A great majority of physicians (91.3%) stated that they advised parents to alternate the use of ibuprofen and paracetamol.ConclusionsThere were misconceptions about the management and complications of fever. There is a perceived need to improve the recognition, assessment, and management of fever with regards to underlying illnesses in children.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions of primary care physicians regarding fever in children: a cross sectional study

Demir

Sekreter²

2012

Ital J Pediatr

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“…8 Tympanic thermometry has many potential benefits, particularly for a busy paediatric emergency setting. The technique is quick, safe, does not require the removal of clothing, easy to use without the risk of cross infection, and is not influenced by environmental temperature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An evaluation of tympanic thermometry in a paediatric emergency department

El-Radhi¹

2006

Emergency Medicine Journal

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Background and objectives: The consequences of missing fever in children can be grave. Body temperature is commonly recorded at the axilla but accuracy is a problem. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a tympanic thermometer in the paediatric emergency setting. Method: In a total of 106 infants, the body temperature was measured in the daytime with an infrared tympanic thermometer, and at the axilla with an electronic thermometer and at the rectum (gold standard for measurement of body temperature). Fever was defined as a rectal temperature of 38.0˚C or greater, axillary temperature of 37.5˚C or greater, and tympanic temperature of 37.6˚C or greater. The temperature readings at the three sites were compared statistically.Results: There was a greater correlation of the tympanic measurement with the rectal measurement than the axillary with the rectal in both febrile and afebrile infants. The mean difference between the tympanic and rectal measurements was lower than that between the axillary and rectal measurements in both groups of infants (tympanic 0.38˚C and 0.42˚C, and axillary 1.11˚C and 1.58˚C, respectively). Tympanic measurements had a sensitivity of 76% whereas axillary measurements had a sensitivity of only 24% with rectal temperatures of 38-38.9˚C. Conclusion: Tympanic thermometry is more accurate than measurement of tempeature with an electronic axillary thermometer. It is also quick and safe, and thus it is recommended in the paediatric emergency setting.

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“…Most research into temperature measurement focuses on the evaluation of sites, largely concentrating on either the paediatric emergency department (Muma et al. 1991, Davis 1993, Wells et al. 1995, Bernardo et al.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%