Comparison of Infrared Smart Mobile Phone Thermometer to Non-contact Forehead Infrared Thermometer in Pediatric Emergency Room Patients

Background: Non-contact infrared thermometers (NCITs) are frequently used for temperature measurements today due to their numerous advantages. With technological developments, NCITs have been integrated into smart mobile devices, aiming to provide ease of use. Objectives: This study aimed to compare body temperature measurements taken with an infrared smart mobile phone thermometer (SMT) to those taken with a non-contact forehead infrared thermometer (NCFIT) in children. Methods: Pediatric patients admitted to the emergency department of the University of Health Sciences, Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children’s Hospital between June 2023 and July 2023 were included in the study. Body temperature measurements were performed using an SMT (USB K8) and an NCFIT (ThermoFlash LX-26). Results: A total of 1116 children were included in this prospective study. The mean difference between the NCFIT and SMT (2 cm near) measurements was 1.2°C. The comparison of the measurements was significantly different (P < 0.05). Although all three measurements were statistically significantly correlated, the correlation between the NCFIT and SMT’s readings at both 2 cm and 8 cm was weak, with r = 0.38 and r = 0.34, respectively (P < 0.01). There were 33 children with fever, defined as a body temperature ≥ 38°C with NCFIT. The mean measurements in febrile children from NCFIT, SMT (2 cm), and SMT (8 cm) were 38.2 ± 0.3°C, 36.3 ± 0.5°C, and 35.8 ± 0.9°C, respectively (P < 0.01). The SMT was not able to detect any body temperature ≥ 38°C. The cut-off value for SMT in patients with fever was determined as 36.15°C, which had a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 78%. Conclusions: The measurements of SMT from distances of 2 cm and 8 cm were correlated with each other, suggesting that it may be valuable for families in clinical settings to detect deviations in their children's baseline measurements, follow-up on antipyretic usage, and monitor different fever levels. However, it is not useful for screening fever in children and must be used cautiously.