Fever represents the rise in body temperature. When moderate it is usually beneficial, reflecting the body's normal ability to defend itself against infection, as many pathogens can only reproduce when the surrounding temperature is within a limited range. However, high fever (over 39 ° C in adults) is dangerous, should be monitored closely and possibly treated with medication. A digital ear thermometer, also known as a tympanic, is a quick and easy way to check body temperature for both adults and children. This instrument measures the infrared radiation (heat) emitted by the eardrum and is considered to be quite accurate in most situations.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Follow Age-Based Guidelines
Step 1. Choose a rectal thermometer for newborns
The best or most suitable model for measuring body temperature depends mainly on the age of the patient. From birth to six months of age it is recommended to use the standard thermometer to measure rectal (anal) temperature, as it is considered the most accurate method. Earwax, ear infections, small and curved ear canals can alter the data obtained, therefore ear thermometers are not the most suitable models for newborns.
- Some medical research has found that temporal artery thermometers are also great options for newborn babies due to their accuracy and reproducibility.
- Newborns have a lower than normal body temperature - usually less than 36 ° C, as opposed to the normal 37 ° C in adults. At this age, they are still unable to regulate their temperature well when they are sick and tend to get cold more than warm or feverish.
Step 2. Use the ear thermometer with caution in infants
Up to the age of about three, the rectal model is still able to guarantee accurate data regarding core body temperature. You can use an ear thermometer even for younger children to get general data (which are always better than nothing), but up to about three years of age it is considered more reliable to measure the temperature rectally, in the armpits or even on the artery temporal (the area of the temples on the head). A mild or moderate fever in children is considered to be more dangerous than in adults, so it is particularly important to get accurate data in this age group.
- Ear infections are quite common, occur regularly in newborns or infants, and can impair correct reading due to inflammation within the ear canals. The tympanic thermometer usually detects too high data during an infection; it is therefore important to measure the temperature in both ears, in case one of the two is infected.
- With standard thermometers it is possible to measure the temperature in the mouth (under the tongue), in the armpits or in the rectum and are appropriate models for infants, toddlers, young children and even adults.
Step 3. Choose any thermometer for children of three years or older
From this age onwards, children tend to suffer from otitis less frequently, making it much easier to clean their ears and eliminate the accumulation of earwax. This substance prevents the thermometer from accurately reading the infrared radiation emitted by the eardrum. Also, after the age of three, the ear canals begin to grow and become slightly curved. Therefore, from this moment all the thermometer models that are used in the different parts of the body are equivalent in terms of accuracy.
- If you use a tympanic model to take a baby's temperature, but are rather skeptical about the result, also measure the rectal temperature with a regular thermometer and compare the data.
- Ear thermometers have become much more reliable over the past decade and are widely available in drugstores and medical supply stores.
Part 2 of 3: Measure the Temperature
Step 1. First clean your ear
Since earwax and dirt accumulated inside reduce the accuracy of the result, make sure your ear is thoroughly cleaned before taking the temperature. Do not use cotton swabs or other similar tools, as debris inside the ear canal could compact on the eardrum. The safest and most effective way to clean the ear is to use a few drops of olive, almond or mineral oil, as long as they are warm, or use specific ear drops to soften the ear wax; at the end rinse (irrigate) the ear with a few splashes of water using a small rubber device designed for this purpose. Wait for the inside of the ear to dry before proceeding with the measurement.
- The ear thermometer detects too low a temperature if there is ear wax or other dirt inside the ear canal.
- You should not use this model if the ear is sore, infected, damaged or recovering from surgery.
Step 2. Put a sterile cover over the tip of the thermometer
Once you have removed the device from its packaging and read the instructions for use, you must cover the tip with a sterile and disposable protection. Since the tip is inserted into the ear, you need to make sure it is clean to minimize the risk of infections - which small children are already particularly prone to. If for some reason your model does not include sterile covers or you have finished them, clean the tip with an antiseptic solution, such as denatured alcohol, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide.
- Colloidal silver is a great antiseptic and can sometimes be made at home, making it an even cheaper product.
- You can only reuse toe protectors if you have thoroughly sanitized them. Make sure you clean them before and after each use.
Step 3. Pull the auricle back and insert the thermometer
Once the device is turned on, try not to move your head (or hold your child's) and pull the top of the pinna back to straighten the ear canal a little and make it easier to insert the instrument. To be more specific, if it is an adult ear, first lift it slightly up and then back; if it is a child's, pull it back in a straight direction. By straightening the ear canal you prevent the tip of the thermometer from causing injury or irritation and get more accurate data.
- Follow the instructions to make sure you insert the device at the correct depth; it is not necessary to touch the eardrum, because the thermometer is designed to detect infrared at a certain distance.
- The ear thermometer reflects an infrared signal on the eardrum to measure the temperature, so it is important to also create a seal around the device, inserting it at the correct depth in the ear canal.
Step 4. Take the reading
Once the thermometer is carefully inserted into your ear, hold it firmly in place until it emits a signal that has detected the temperature - usually with a beep. At this point extract it slowly and carefully and read the data that appears on the digital display. Write down the result on paper and don't just rely on memory, because the assistant or doctor will want to know the outcome.
- By doing so, it also becomes easier to compare different data over a given period of time if you are monitoring a fever.
- One of the advantages that this tool brings is the speed with which a fairly accurate result is obtained, when used correctly.
Part 3 of 3: Interpreting the Results
Step 1. Know the normal changes in body temperature
Not all parts of the body always have the same temperature. For example, while the physiological temperature of the oral cavity (under the tongue) of an adult is 37 ° C, that of the ear (of the eardrum) is generally 0.3-0.6 ° C higher, it can therefore reach even 37.8 ° C and be considered normal. It can also vary based on gender, level of physical activity, type of food or drink you consume, time of day and period of your menstrual cycle (in women). You must therefore take all of these factors into consideration when determining whether you or someone else has a fever.
- In adults, normal body temperatures actually range from 36.6 ° C down to just under 37.8 ° C.
- Studies have found that with ear thermometers there can be a temperature difference of more than 0.5 ° C more or less than with rectal ones, which are the most accurate temperature measurement tools.
Step 2. Determine if there is a fever
For all the reasons described so far and the fact that there may be wrong and / or inaccurate detection techniques, you should measure the temperature several times, even better if with different types of thermometers in different parts of the body. Compare all readings and calculate the average. However, you need to take into account other common indicators of mild or moderate fever, such as sweating even at rest, headache, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite and increased thirst.
- You don't have to rely on a single reading with a tympanic thermometer to define a course of treatment or take other steps.
- Babies can be very sick without fever or appear normal with a temperature just over 37.8 ° C - you don't have to come to conclusions based on numbers alone, but you need to look for other symptoms as well.
Step 3. Know when to see your doctor
Fever is a common symptom of illness, but it is not always a bad thing, as it plays an important role in fighting infections. Although an ear temperature of 38 ° C or higher is considered a fever, if your child is over a year old and is drinking plenty of fluids, playing games, and sleeping normally, there is typically no reason or need for medical attention. However, when the temperature reaches or exceeds 38.9 ° C and is associated with other symptoms, such as unusual irritability, discomfort, lethargy, cough and / or moderate or severe diarrhea, you should definitely see your pediatrician.
- When the fever is high (39.4 - 41.1 ° C) it is often accompanied by hallucinations, confusion, severe irritability, convulsions and usually requires urgent medical attention.
- Your doctor may recommend acetaminophen (Tachipirina) or ibuprofen (Brufen or other baby formulations) to try to reduce fever. However, ibuprofen should not be given to babies less than 6 months of age; Furthermore, children and young people up to the age of 18 should not be given aspirin due to the risk of developing Reye's syndrome.
Advice
Thermometer strips (which rest on the forehead and use liquid crystals that react to heat) are also quick to use and cheap, but they are not as accurate as ear thermometers for measuring body temperature
Warnings
- All information in this article should not be considered medical advice. Contact your pediatrician, nurse or pharmacist if you suspect there is a fever.
- See your pediatrician if your child with a fever repeatedly vomits, complains of severe headache or stomach pain.
- If the child is feverish from being in a hot car, take him to the emergency room right away.
- Call the pediatrician if the baby has a fever for more than three days.
