Core temperature measurement methods and their accuracy in pediatric intensive care units: a narrative review

Background: Accurate core temperature monitoring in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) is crucial for assessing health status, guiding therapies, and predicting outcomes. Objective: To review core temperature measurement methods and their accuracy in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), with emphasis on emerging non-invasive technologies. Content: We compare commonly used peripheral, non-invasive, and invasive techniques (including temporal artery, tympanic, zero-heat-flux thermometry, infrared thermography, and esophageal/rectal/bladder/nasopharyngeal sites) and summarize factors that affect agreement with core temperature under critical illness. Conclusion: Accurate temperature assessment supports timely diagnosis and therapy guidance. Evidence to date suggests that zero-heat-flux thermometry and infrared thermography are promising for continuous, non-invasive monitoring, but require further validation across pediatric ages and clinical scenarios.