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[Otologic determining factors on infra-red tympanic thermometry in children]
F J García Callejo1, A Platero Zamarreño, E Sebastián Gil
1Servicio de ORL, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia. jgarciacall@hotmail.com
Objective:
To evaluate the influence of different otoscopic findings on body thermometry in children using an infra-red tympanic thermometer.
Patients And Methods:
Body temperature was measured on healthy right and left ear canals with Thermoscan systems. Moreover, it was determined on children with altered otoscopy, companng to normal contralateral ear. To assess its diagnostic fiability, accuracy ratios were calculated in different temperatures.
Results:
Temperature measured bilaterally did not offer differences, and intra/interassay variation ratios were always less than 0.34%. Acute otitis externa increased tympanic thermometry a mean of 0.36 degrees C (p < 0.001), and cerumen and previously radical surgery decreased a mean of 0.62 and 0.53 degrees C, respectively (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
The conditions mentioned before modify body thermometry if measured by infra-red tympanic thermometer. So, this system must be avoided in these circumstances. Otitis media, fluid in middle ear, tympanic perforation and ventilation tubes did not modify thermometric results.
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