Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 7-8/2021

23.10.2020 | original article

Covid-19 screening: are forehead temperature measurements during cold outdoor temperatures really helpful?

verfasst von: Cornelius Dzien, Wolfgang Halder, Hannes Winner, Monika Lechleitner

Erschienen in: Wiener klinische Wochenschrift | Ausgabe 7-8/2021

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Summary

Background

Body temperature control is a frequently used screening test for infectious diseases, such as Covid-19 (Sars-CoV-2). We used this procedure to test the body temperature of staff members in a hospital in Tyrol (Austria), where the Covid-19 disease occurred in March 2020. The hospital is located in a mountain area at 995 m above sea level with low outdoor temperatures during early spring season. Under these conditions, we analyzed whether forehead temperature control offers a sufficient screening tool for infectious diseases.

Methods

Forehead temperature of 101 healthy male and female employees was measured with an infrared thermometer directly after entering the hospital (0 min), followed by further controls after 1 min, 3 min, 5 min and 60 min. We also tracked the outside temperature and the temperature at the entrance hall of the hospital.

Results

Complete data of body temperature were available for 46 female and 46 male study participants. The average forehead temperature measured directly after entrance to the hospital was the lowest (0 min) 33.17 ± 1.45 °C, and increased constantly to 34.90 ± 1.49 °C after 1 min, 35.77 ± 1.10 °C after 3 min, 36.08 ± 0.79 °C after 5 min, and 36.6 ± 0.24 °C after 60 min. The outside temperature ranged between −5.5 °C and 0 °C, the indoor temperature had a constant value of 20.5 °C.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that forehead infrared temperature control is not an appropriate tool to screen for infectious disease directly at the entrance of a building, at least during early spring season with cold outdoor temperatures.
Literatur
2.
Zurück zum Zitat Li Q, Guan X, Wu P, Wang X, Zhou L, Tong Y, et al. Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel Coronavirus-infected pneumonia. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(13):1199–207.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Li Q, Guan X, Wu P, Wang X, Zhou L, Tong Y, et al. Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel Coronavirus-infected pneumonia. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(13):1199–207.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Bitar D, Goubar A, Desenclos JC. International travels and fever screening during epidemics: a literature review on the effectiveness and potential use of non-contact infrared thermometers. Euro Surveill. 2009;14:1–5.CrossRef Bitar D, Goubar A, Desenclos JC. International travels and fever screening during epidemics: a literature review on the effectiveness and potential use of non-contact infrared thermometers. Euro Surveill. 2009;14:1–5.CrossRef
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Gostic KM, Gomez ACR, Mummah RO, Kucharski AJ, Lloyd-Smith JO. Estimated effectiveness of symptom and risk screening to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Elife. 2020;9:1–18.CrossRef Gostic KM, Gomez ACR, Mummah RO, Kucharski AJ, Lloyd-Smith JO. Estimated effectiveness of symptom and risk screening to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Elife. 2020;9:1–18.CrossRef
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Manual TriTemp Non-contact-thermometer Part No CWC017 Revision 0619. 2020. Manual TriTemp Non-contact-thermometer Part No CWC017 Revision 0619. 2020.
10.
Zurück zum Zitat Casella G, Berger RL. Statistical Inference. 2nd ed. Duxbury: Pacific-Grove; 2002. Casella G, Berger RL. Statistical Inference. 2nd ed. Duxbury: Pacific-Grove; 2002.
11.
Zurück zum Zitat Bagley RJ, Judelson AD, Spiering AB, Beam CW, Bartolini JA, Washburn VB, et al. Validity of field expedient devices to assess core temperature during exercise in the cold. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2011;82(12):1098–103.CrossRefPubMed Bagley RJ, Judelson AD, Spiering AB, Beam CW, Bartolini JA, Washburn VB, et al. Validity of field expedient devices to assess core temperature during exercise in the cold. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2011;82(12):1098–103.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Casa DJ, Becker SM, Ganio MS, Brown CM, Yeargin SW, Roti MW, et al. Validity of devices that assess body temperature during outdoor exercise in the heat. J Athl Train. 2007;42(3):333–42.PubMedPubMedCentral Casa DJ, Becker SM, Ganio MS, Brown CM, Yeargin SW, Roti MW, et al. Validity of devices that assess body temperature during outdoor exercise in the heat. J Athl Train. 2007;42(3):333–42.PubMedPubMedCentral
14.
Zurück zum Zitat Strapazzon G, Procter E, Putzer G, Avancini G, Dal Cappello T, Überbacher N, et al. Influence of low ambient temperature on epitympanic temperature measurement: a prospective randomized clinical study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2015;23(1):1–6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-015-0172-5.CrossRef Strapazzon G, Procter E, Putzer G, Avancini G, Dal Cappello T, Überbacher N, et al. Influence of low ambient temperature on epitympanic temperature measurement: a prospective randomized clinical study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2015;23(1):1–6. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1186/​s13049-015-0172-5.CrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
Covid-19 screening: are forehead temperature measurements during cold outdoor temperatures really helpful?
verfasst von
Cornelius Dzien
Wolfgang Halder
Hannes Winner
Monika Lechleitner
Publikationsdatum
23.10.2020
Verlag
Springer Vienna
Erschienen in
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift / Ausgabe 7-8/2021
Print ISSN: 0043-5325
Elektronische ISSN: 1613-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-020-01754-2

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 7-8/2021

Wiener klinische Wochenschrift 7-8/2021 Zur Ausgabe