How Good Are Ear Thermometers?
Hello Dr. Warren: I got your address through the web site. I have a general question. I’m interested in finding out how reliable are infrared ear thermometers. Would you recommend this product over the oral thermometers? -CT Dear CT: All the studies I’ve read about the ear thermometers suggest that they are the most accurate way to measure the core (central) temperature of the body. The main problem they find is that, if the ear thermometer is not aimed correctly at the ear drum, it may result in a falsely low reading including, possibly, a normal temperature even when the patient has a fever. My personal experience has varied somewhat from those studies. Most of the highest readings I’ve seen are from infrared ear thermometers. There are several possible explanations such as: the core temperature is actually higher than the rectal temperature, or parents are more willing to take the temperature with the ear thermometer so we get more temperature readings and many of them are high. If
