Evaluation of Infrared Thermometry of Tympanic Cavity as an Indicator of CoreTemperature

摘要

This study examined relationships among rectal (Tr), esophageal (T.), andtympanic (Ty) membrane (left and right) responses during exercise in high ambient temperatures. Tr, Te, Tty, and skin (Tsk) temperatures were recorded on 11 subjects Under the following conditions: (A) at rest in room temperature (20 to 22 deg C); (B) at rest in a climatic chamber (48 to 51 deg C); (C) cycle ergometry exercise at IOOW in a climatic chamber (48 to 51 deg C); and (D) at rest in room temperature (20 to 22deg C). In conditions A, B and C, ice was applied to the face and neck for 1-min intervals. In condition D, four of the subjects were exposed to air currents. In condition A, Tty correlated with T, and T., whereas in conditions B and C, Tty remained consistently higher than at all other temperature sites. During condition C, only Tty and Tsk decreased in response to ice application. In condition D, exposure to a fan resulted in temperature decreases at all sites; however, the only significant changes were observed in Tty. The Tty fluctuations suggest that the tympanic membrane is an unstable measurement site in high heat and exercise conditions, a well as in changing environmental conditions. Tympanic, Infrared thermometry, Core temperature, Heat stress.