New Device Helps Parents Easily Monitor Body Temperatures

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Is it a challenge to take your child's temperature?

A new kind of thermometer could make it easier. It's a soft, flexible patch, worn like a band-aid under the arm.

It continuously measures your child's temperature, and wirelessly sends the information to a smart phone or tablet via Bluebooth. You don't have to wake up your child in the middle of the night.

"And then.. not have me get out of bed either," says mother Grace Yu.

It's called "Fever Scout." An app on your smart phone will alert you if your child needs attention, track the fever in real time, and keep a record you can share with your doctor

"It's great because we can see trends," says Grace.

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"Body temperature changes hour by hour, second by second, minute by minute," says Allegheny Health Network pediatrician Dr. Joseph Aracri. "So seeing the variations in temperature really in an acute visit wouldn't have any significance. Parents will call me and say at 2:00 I took this temperature, then at 3:00 it was this temperature, and at 4:00 it was that temperature, and I tell them they're taking way too many temperatures."

What's inside the patch? A paper-thin, stretchable circuit known as "e-skin." So thin, it's almost invisible.

"Its BPA free.. it's lead free," says Kurt Pfluger of Vivalink, the device maker. "You have a very flexible and breathable and stretchable thermometer that you can wear which is really unnoticeable to the user.

"I think probably the most important thing is that my kids like it they don't care at all," says Grace.

The device uses replaceable adhesive and can stay on a child for up to 5 days. It costs $59 online.

"Fevers are actually a good thing. It's way for the body to take care of itself," Dr. Aracri points out. "We always tell the parent, first, don't look at the number, look at your child."

Devices that monitor blood pressure and pulse and oxygen and respiration are only going to become more available. Question is, how much information is too much information? Probably not necessary to watch these things continuously. But checking whenever there's a problem or a concern, the old-fashioned way, is good enough.