The correlation between tympanic membrane temperature and specific region of face temperature

Facial temperature measurements using infrared thermography (IRT) will be allowed screening travellers with high fever quickly and safely at airports or national borders if we have the formula for calculating tympanic temperature or reference standard temperature tables. This study was conducted to investigate whether the recommended position in the ISO guidelines for facial themograms measured by IRT best reflects tympanic temperature or whether other specific areas are better represented. Data were collected from NHIS Ilsan Hospital from August 2016 to December 2016. A total of 508 subjects were included in this study. The six regions of interest (ROI) of eye (medial canthus, cornea, sclera between medial canthus and cornea both side) and one ROI of inter-brow of face were defined, (as shown in figure 1) where the temperatures were measured. These values were compared with the eardrum temperature. The results showed that the tympanic membrane temperature and medial canthus were the most similar. And a model to predict tympanic temperature through statistical bias correction can be developed.