Study Questions Efficacy of Popular Forehead Thermometer

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Pompei also noted that the use of the temporal thermometry on sweaty athletes such as those running in the Boston Marathon has been largely investigative to this point.

"Due to the profusely perspiring athletes, we have developed methods of measuring temperatures on such athletes by employing an infrared transparent membrane, which is impermeable to water. When properly used, the film is either attached to the [temporal] thermometer or placed on the subject's forehead in a manner that stops the evaporation of the perspiration, thus rendering the temperature of the skin over the [temporal thermometer] the same as if it were completely dry," he explained. "The impermeable membrane method has not been published nor released for general use with the [temporal] thermometer, since we are still refining the method."

Mueller noted that using the temporal thermometer with sweaty sports athletes is questionable at this point.

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"I think people should be concerned, especially in athletic injury research," he said. "If I was a director of a marathon using that method, I would doublecheck and make sure we're doing the right thing."

As a result of internal investigations as well as this study, Levine said, Parkland Hospital has stopped using temporal thermometers.

"If it is really important to measure body temperature," he said, "this device is not the way to do it. If the forehead is hot, and the kid isn't sweating, this device works pretty well. But if you think your child has a fever, and they are sweating, and the device says the skin temperature is normal, I would not be reassured by that."

More information

For more information on hyperthermia, visit the National Institute on Aging.

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