ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The best method of body temperature measurement in children has been investigated for many years. It has become possible to make non-invasive continuous temperature measurement by using smartphones, to record the values and to give warning in case of fever with the technological developments in recent years. Nevertheless, there is no data on the accuracy of body temperature measurements using this method. We aimed to compare measurements made by the smartphone applications and using the axillary digital thermometers.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional observational study. All patients, who were admitted to the pediatric emergency department between 1 July 2017 and 30 September 2017 with fever, were included. Demographic characteristics and the diagnosis of the patients were recorded. The body temperatures measured using smartphone applications and those using axillary digital thermometers were compared.

Results:

During the study period, 234 measurements were done in 53 patients. The mean age of the patients was 58±51 months. Thirty (57%) patients were male and eleven (21%) were infant. The most frequent diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infection (20, 38%) and acute gastroenteritis (12, 23%). There was no significant difference between smartphone applications and axillary digital thermometers in detecting fever (p=0.754). The mean body temperature value taken using axillary digital thermometers and smartphone applications were 37.07±0.85 °C and 37.16±0.89 °C, respectively. Both measurements were strongly correlated with each other (r=0.874, p<0.001). In the fever period, the mean body temperature measured by axillary digital thermometers and smartphone applications was 38.14±0.56 °C and 38.24±0.55 °C, respectively. These values were also strongly correlated with each other (r=0.745, p<0.001). Similar results were also obtained in infants.

Conclusion:

Smartphone applications seem to be a superior method that can be used reliably, anywhere and in all age groups, however, further studies are warranted to introduce this method into routine use.

Keywords: Fever, smartphone application, skin sensor, thermometer

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Comparison of Axillary Digital Thermometer with Smart Fever Measurement

ABSTRACT

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