Episode 979: Oral vs Temporal Thermometers

Episode 979: Oral vs Temporal Thermometers

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • A recent study published in a pediatric journal in April 2025 compared temporal and oral thermometers
  • Paired temperature measurements (temporal and oral temperature within 30 minutes) were obtained from 1,412 pediatric patients
    • 26% of patients had statistically different temporal and oral temperatures
      • The temporal reading was always lower than the oral reading
      • Children less than 12 years old were 2-3x more likely to actually have that statistical difference in temperatures
  • The study also evaluated 1,000 adult patients
    • 36% had a temporal temperature that was 0.5 degrees Celsius lower than the oral temperature
  • Reasons for the statistical difference between the two types of thermometers:
    • Environment: temporal thermometers are affected by ambient room temperature, diaphoresis, and inaccuracy in measuring temperature at the site of the temporal artery
    • Physiologic: a patient with inadequate perfusion will not have an accurate temporal reading
  • Impact:
    • Obtaining an accurate temperature is crucial in patient care
    • For example, in the setting of sepsis, temperature is a necessary component to identifying when a patient meets SIRS criteria

References

  1. Salhi RA, Meeker MA, Williams C, Iwashyna TJ, Samuels-Kalow ME. Inaccuracy of Temporal Thermometer Measurement by Age and Race. Acad Pediatr. 2025 Apr;25(3):102620. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2024.102620. Epub 2024 Dec 15. PMID: 39681266.

Summarized by Meg Joyce, MS2 | Edited by Meg Joyce & Jorge Chalit, OMS4

Donate: https://emergencymedicalminute.org/donate/

Jaksot(1144)

Episode 987: Cough Suppressants

Episode 987: Cough Suppressants

Contributor: Meghan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls:  OTC Medications Dextromethorphan (DM) Most common OTC cough suppressant Minimal efficacy: Little evidence that it shortens the duration or severit...

15 Joulu 20257min

Episode 986: Lateral Canthotomy in Emergency Settings

Episode 986: Lateral Canthotomy in Emergency Settings

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: What is orbital compartment syndrome, and how is it assessed in the emergency room? Orbital compartment syndrome (OCS) is an emergent ophthalmic cond...

8 Joulu 20254min

Episode 985: Amiodarone vs. Lidocaine

Episode 985: Amiodarone vs. Lidocaine

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: How do amiodarone and lidocaine work on the heart? Amiodarone Blocks potassium channels (Class III effect). Also blocks sodium and calcium channels....

8 Joulu 20252min

Episode 984: Fish Hooks

Episode 984: Fish Hooks

Contributor: Megan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: Assess first: confirm the hook isn't near vital structures. Automatic subspecialty consult for eye involvement or proximity to carotid artery, radial...

24 Marras 20254min

Episode 983: Head-of-Bed Position in Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes

Episode 983: Head-of-Bed Position in Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes

Contributor: Aaron Lessen MD Educational Pearls:  Recent prospective randomized clinical trial assessed optimal head-of-bed positioning in patients with LVO 0º vs. 30º elevation Objective was to det...

18 Marras 20252min

Episode 982: Epistaxis Management

Episode 982: Epistaxis Management

Contributor: Meghan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: 1. Initial Assessment Start with a physical examination: Determine if the bleed is anterior or posterior. Perform a primary survey: assess ai...

10 Marras 20256min

Episode 981: Electrical Burns

Episode 981: Electrical Burns

Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD Educational Pearls: Quick Statistics on Electrical Burns: Electrical burns compose roughly 2 to 9% of all burns that come into emergency departments. The majority of p...

3 Marras 20253min

Tox Talks 2025 Recap 1, Digoxin and Beta Blockers

Tox Talks 2025 Recap 1, Digoxin and Beta Blockers

Contributors: Preeya Prakash MD, Adam Greenhaw PharmD, Travis Barlock MD, and Jeffrey Olson MS4 In this episode, cardiologist Preeya Prakash and medical student Jeffrey Olson listen in as two cases ar...

29 Loka 202557min

Suosittua kategoriassa Tiede

rss-mita-tulisi-tietaa
rss-poliisin-mieli
rss-duodecim-lehti
tiedekulma-podcast
rss-lihavuudesta-podcast
utelias-mieli
docemilia
mielipaivakirja
radio-antro
rss-opeklubi
sotataidon-ytimessa
hippokrateen-vastaanotolla
rss-laakaripodi
rss-mental-race
rss-luontopodi-samuel-glassar-tutkii-luonnon-ihmeita
rss-sosiopodi