Study Finds Temperature Measurement at More Than Half of Well-child Visits

A new study has found that temperature measurement occurs at more than half of well-child visits and is a clinic-driven practice. The study, “Frequency and Consequences of Routine Temperature Measurement at Well-Child Visits,” which will be published in the January 2022 issue of Pediatrics (published online Dec. 13), analyzed a total of 274,351 well-child visits in 50,571 children. Temperature was measured at 161,639 (58.9%) well-child visits. Routine temperature measurement may contribute to inappropriate antibiotic prescription, in part due to incidental fever detection, the authors note. They also note that incidental fevers contribute to missed opportunities for vaccination. The clinics measuring temperature most often were those with higher proportions of Hispanic/Latinx, Black, and government-insured patients. Measuring temperature more often in Black and Hispanic/Latinx patients or those on government insurance plans may exacerbate disparities in immunizing children with the COVID-19 vaccine. Given the impact on subsequent interventions and vaccine deferral, the harm-benefit nature of this practice should be considered, the authors conclude.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.