Q. How accurate is forehead thermometers?

Answer

Thermometers that are placed on the forehead provide a broad indication of whether or not a person has a fever and are thus suitable for use in the home. Nevertheless, a research that was conducted in the year 2020 found that forehead thermometers are not as reliable as other techniques of monitoring temperature, such as rectal, tympanic (ear), or oral temperature readings. As per a trusted source from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the setting in which a person uses a forehead thermometer may also have an effect on the accuracy of the device. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggests that the temperature measurement may be erroneous if there is a draught, direct sunshine, or a radiant heat source present. A person's reading may also be erroneous if they have been wearing a headband or head wrap before to taking the test, or if they have perspiration or dirt on their forehead at the time of the reading. Both the forehead and the ear thermometers were found to yield readings that were lower than those given by rectal thermometers in a research that was conducted in 2013. The authors came to the conclusion that the difference between the two kinds of thermometers was most noticeable for forehead thermometers. They came to the conclusion that using forehead thermometers in paediatric and hospital settings is not recommended.