Ng Daniel K, Chan Chung-Hong, Lee Robert S, Leung Lettie C
Department of Paediatrics, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong.
Ann Trop Paediatr. 2005 Dec;25(4):267-75. doi: 10.1179/146532805X72412.
During the SARS epidemic, mass fever screening at border control points and public hospitals was done by measuring forehead temperature by non-contact infrared thermometry. However, its accuracy is not well documented.
We evaluated the agreement of non-contact infrared forehead temperature (NIFT) measurement by comparing NIFT readings with tympanic temperatures taken in children (1 mth to 18 yrs) admitted to the general paediatric wards of Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong.
A total of 567 patients were recruited and 1000 pairs of readings were obtained. The incidence of fever, defined as tympanic temperature (in rectal model) >38 degrees C (100.4 degrees F), was 12.3%. The mean difference between NIFT and tympanic temperature was 2.34 degrees C (4.21 degrees F) and the 95% limit of agreement between NIFT and tympanic temperature was 0.26-4.42 degrees C (0.47-7.96 degrees F). NIFT was significantly lower than tympanic temperature readings. The optimal cut-off point of NIFT derived from the receiver-operator characteristics curve for fever definition was 35.1 degrees C (95.2 degrees F). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of this cut-off point for fever screening were 89.4%, 75.4%, 33.7% and 98.1%, respectively.
NIFT measurement has a reasonable accuracy in detecting tympanic fever in children. However, one should be aware of the high false-positive rate of fever screening using NIFT.
在严重急性呼吸系统综合症（SARS）流行期间，边境管制点和公立医院通过非接触式红外测温法测量额头温度进行大规模发热筛查。然而，其准确性尚无充分记录。
我们通过比较香港广华医院普通儿科病房收治的1个月至18岁儿童的非接触式红外额头温度（NIFT）读数与鼓膜温度，评估了NIFT测量的一致性。
共招募了567名患者，获得了1000对读数。定义为鼓膜温度（直肠模型）>38摄氏度（100.4华氏度）的发热发生率为12.3%。NIFT与鼓膜温度的平均差值为2.34摄氏度（4.21华氏度），NIFT与鼓膜温度的95%一致性界限为0.26 - 4.42摄氏度（0.47 - 7.96华氏度）。NIFT显著低于鼓膜温度读数。根据用于发热定义的受试者工作特征曲线得出的NIFT最佳截断点为35.1摄氏度（95.2华氏度）。该截断点用于发热筛查的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为89.4%、75.4%、33.7%和98.1%。
NIFT测量在检测儿童鼓膜发热方面具有合理的准确性。然而，应注意使用NIFT进行发热筛查时假阳性率较高。
