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Related Experiment Videos

Does crying turn tympanic membranes red?

Loren G Yamamoto1, Ryan N Sumida, Stephen S Yano

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Kapiolani Medical Center For Women and Children, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.

Clinical Pediatrics
|October 8, 2005
PubMed
Summary
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Crying can make the tympanic membrane (TM) appear pinker in infants and toddlers. However, crying in healthy children does not cause a red TM, which is important for diagnosing ear infections.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Otolaryngology
  • Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Accurate diagnosis of acute otitis media relies on clinical factors, including tympanic membrane (TM) color.
  • Crying is known to cause facial flushing and hyperemia, potentially affecting TM appearance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if crying influences the color of the tympanic membrane in infants and toddlers.
  • To differentiate between normal crying-induced color changes and those indicative of pathology.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 121 infants and toddlers (≤30 months) undergoing routine well-baby checks with immunizations.
  • Two physician assessments of crying and TM color/visibility before and after immunizations.
  • Color changes stratified by crying intensity.

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Main Results:

  • TM colors were predominantly pink or less; no TMs were assessed as red.
  • A significantly higher percentage of TMs appeared redder after crying (28% vs. 11%, p=0.0007).
  • Increased crying correlated with a greater degree of TM redness (19% vs. 5%, p=0.0004).

Conclusions:

  • Crying can lead to increased pinkness of the tympanic membrane in young children.
  • Crying in well children does not typically result in a red tympanic membrane, aiding in differential diagnosis.