Comparative study of body temperature measured with a non-contact infrared thermometer versus conventional devices. The first Italian study on 90 pediatric patients

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of measuring body temperature with an infrared non contact thermometer versus conventional devices in infants and children. METHODS: A total of 90 pediatric patients, comprising inpatients and ambulatory patients, examined at the Second Children's Clinic of the University of Milan were recruited and divided by age into 3 groups (<1 year, 1-5 years, >5 years of age). The body temperature of each patient was measured using the study device at three sites (forehead, navel, axilla) and three other commercially available thermometers. Correlation between the measurements was tested with linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The correlation between the measurements was statistically significant; the temperature measured at the three body sites (forehead, navel, axilla) were comparable with those taken with the other thermometers in a statistically significant way. CONCLUSION: The noncontact Thermofocus infrared thermometer can measure body temperature accurately and reproducibly at various body sites. Thanks to its technology, the device can measure body temperature quickly and noninvasively, an essential feature in pediatric practice.