Abstract
Background
Guidelines recommend measuring temperature in children presenting with fever using electronic axillary or tympanic thermometers. Non-contact thermometry offers advantages, yet has not been tested against recommended methods in primary care.
Aim
To compare two different non-contact infrared thermometers (NCITs) to axillary and tympanic thermometers in children aged
Design and setting
Method comparison study with nested qualitative component.
Method
Temperature measurements were taken with electronic axillary (Welch Allyn SureTemp (R)], electronic tympanic [Braun Thermoscan (R)], NCIT Thermofocus (R) 0803. and NCIT Firheatth Forehead. Parents rated acceptability and discomfort. Qualitative interviews explored parents' experiences of the thermometers.
Results
In total 401 children were recruited (median age 1.6 years, 50.62% male). Mean difference between the Thermofocus NCIT and axillary thermometer was 0.14 degrees C (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.21 to -0.06 degrees C); lower limit of agreement was -1.57 degrees C (95% CI = -1.69 to -1.44 degrees C) and upper limit 1.29 degrees C (95% CI = 1.16 to 1.42 degrees C). A second NCIT (Firhealth) had similar levels of agreement; however, the limits of agreement between tympanic and axillary thermometers were also wide. Parents expressed a preference for the practicality and comfort of NCITs, and were mostly negative about their child's experience of axillary thermometers. But there was willingness to adopt which, was medically recommended.
Conclusion
In a primary care paediatric population, temperature measurements with NCITs varied by >1 degrees C compared with axillary and tympanic approaches. But there was also poor agreement between tympanic and axillary thermometers. Since clinical guidelines often rely on specific fever thresholds, clinicians should interpret penpheral thermometer readings with caution and in the context of a holistic assessment of the child.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | E236-E244 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | British Journal of General Practice |
Volume | 70 |
Issue number | 693 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr-2020 |
Keywords
- acute disease
- child
- fever
- primary health care
- thermometers
- RECTAL THERMOMETRY
- CLINICAL ACCURACY
- EAR THERMOMETRY
- TEMPERATURE
- FEVER
- SKIN
- PARENTS