Body temperature and clinical thermometry

Abstract

In this chapter, the nuance of body temperature is explored in the context of contemporary clinical medicine and technology. It takes the reader through the concept of body and shell as a route to explain the variety of temperature measurements that are observed in health and disease and the interdependence between skin and core temperature in maintaining thermal stability and thermal comfort perception. Methods for the measurement of temperature using different thermometer devices are discussed from the perspective of fundamental clinical assessment and vital signs, temperature monitoring and measurement for life-critical decision making, thermometry in mass screening, and to the future with advances in thermometry and thermography in new applications for diagnosis.

Keywords: agreement; body temperature; core; infrared thermography; shell; skin temperature; temperature measurement; thermal mosaic; thermometry.