Since the human body reacts to a variety of different diseases with elevated body temperature, measurement of body temperature remains relevant in clinical practice. The absolute temperature value for fever definition is still arbitrary and depends on the measuring site, as well as underlying disease and individual factors. Hence, a simple threshold for fever definition is outdated and a definition which relies on the relative changes in the individual seems reasonable as it takes these individual factors into account. In this prospective multicentric study we validate an adhesive axillary thermometer (SteadyTemp®) which allows continuous non-invasive temperature measurements. It consists of a patch to measure temperature and a smartphone application to process and visualize gathered data. This article provides information of the new diagnostic possibilities when using this wearable device and where it could be beneficial. Furthermore, it discusses how to interpret the generated data and when it is not practical to use, based on its characteristics and physiological phenomena.
Keywords: axillary; continuous; fever; measurements; temperature; wearable devices.
Copyright © 2021 Boyer, Eckmann, Strohmayer, Koele, Federspiel, Schenk, Weiss and Krause.