This study was undertaken to determine the upper limit of normal ear temperatures, defined as the 95th percentile for infants, children, and adolescents, using the arterial heat balance method for measuring ear temperatures. Ear temperatures were measured in 62 infants, 0-2 months of age; 346 children, 3-47 months; 226 children, 48-119 months; and 172 adolescents, 120-227 months using the Ligh Touch Pedi-Q (Exergen Corp, Watertown, MA) ear thermometer. The 95th percentiles for the four age groups were 100.1°F (37.8°C), 100.3°F (37.9°C), 99.8°F (37.7°C), and 99.8°F (37.7°C), respectively. Temperatures above 100.0°F (37.8°C) using the Ligh Touch Pedi-Q ear thermometer should be considered elevated.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. Loveys AA, Dutko-Fioravanti I, Eberly SW, Powell KR. Comparison of ear to rectal temperature measurements in infants and toddlers. Clin Pediatr. 1999;38:463-466.
2.
2. Shao J, Dongsheng T. The Jackknife and Bootstrap. New York: Springer; 1995.
3.
3. Bayley N, Stolz R. Maturational changes in rectal temperatures of 61 infants from 1 to 36 months. Child Dev. 1937;8:195-206.
4.
4. Iliff A, Lee VA. Pulse rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature of children between two months and eighteen years of age. Child Dev. 1952;23: 237-245.
5.
5. Herzog LW, Coyne LJ. What is fever? Normal temperature in infants less than 3 months old. Clin Pediatr. 1993;32:142-146.
