Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2000 Jul;43(7):715-718.

Clinical Usefulness of Temperature of Tympanic Membrane in Diagnosing Unilateral Acute Suppurative Otitis Media

• Jang CH
• Kim YH

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Infeared tympanic membrane thermometer (ITMT) provides an accurate estimate of tympanic membrane temperature in healthy children and may accurately reflect core body temperature. This study was undertaken to determine if temperature readings using this newly designed ITMT are affected by the presence of acute suppurative otitis media (ASOM) in children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty children with unilateral acute suppurative otitis media were enrolled in the study. Temperature of ASOM was measured in both ears using ITMT and compared to 20 normal children.
RESULTS
In acute suppurative otitis media, the mean temperature in infected ears was 1.28t higher than that in uninfected ears (p(0.05). The mean temperature of normal children was 36.34C and there was statistically significant difference between normal and unilateral acute otitis media.
CONCLUSION
The ITMT was found to be accurate, rapidly responding and easy to use. It may help to diagnose acute unilateral suppurative otitis media combined with pneumatic otoscopy md tympanogram.

Keyword

Acute suppurative otitis media; Unilateral; Temperature; Tympanic membrane

MeSH Terms

Body Temperature
Child
Ear
Humans
Otitis Media
Otitis Media, Suppurative*
Otoscopy
Reading
Thermometers
Tympanic Membrane*