Do you know how to use a Digital Ear Thermometer? A digital ear thermometer is perhaps one of the fastest ways to measure an individual’s temperature. It provides an accurate reading and only takes a few seconds to get the results.
The temperature is taken by measuring the warmth being released within the internal ear. The infrared detector on the digital ear thermometer then measures the heat emitted from the ear.
Using a digital ear thermometer is relatively easy. There is no need to check your watch now and then and worry that the thermometer isn’t placed right.
Digital Ear Thermometer
A digital ear thermometer is a medical device used to measure a person’s body temperature by taking readings from the ear canal. It uses infrared technology to measure the amount of heat radiated from the eardrum, which is a reliable indicator of body temperature. The device consists of a probe that is inserted into the ear canal and a digital display that shows the temperature reading.
Digital ear thermometers are commonly used in homes and medical facilities because they are quick, easy to use, and provide accurate readings. They are particularly useful for taking the temperature of infants and young children who may be too young to cooperate with other temperature measurement methods. Medical professionals also prefer them for their accuracy and reliability.
Clean Ears – Clean Reading
Before taking an individual’s temperature using a digital ear thermometer, you must make sure the ear is clean. Dirt or earwax buildup inside the ear can cause an inaccurate reading.
Also, make sure the person has not been doing any strenuous activity since this can cause the body’s temperature to increase, resulting in an inaccurate reading.
Sanitize the Digital Ear Thermometer
Before using the digital ear thermometer, it’s vital that you sanitise all the tools you’ll be using. This is to avoid any cross-contamination from the thermometer to the patient.
To do this, wet the plant disease with alcohol and wipe the tip of the digital ear thermometer.
Correct Ear Position
Although the digital ear thermometer is a simple instrument, it’s accurate thanks to positioning the ear to ensure you’re pointing the tip to the correct area of the ear. Pointing the tip incorrectly will result in an inaccurate reading.
Since the thermometer reads the temperature within the internal ear in infrared red, it’s important to get the internal ear and thermometer in acceptable alignment. To do this, lightly pull the upper earlobe and then pull it back. You will notice this lengthens and opens up the inner ear.
Insert the Digital Ear Thermometer
Turn on the digital ear thermometer to activate the infrared. Carefully insert the probe into the internal ear. Do not force the probe since this will damage the ear.
However, confirm the digital ear thermometer fits snugly within the ear without forcing the instrument in.
Read the Digital Ear Thermometer
Once you’ve set the probe of the digital ear thermometer, wait a few seconds until you hear a beep. The beep may be a warning that the tool has completed reading the temperature.
Carefully remove the probe from the internal ear and examine the reading on the body of the digital ear thermometer to ascertain if you’ve successfully read the blood heat.
If you see the code “ERR,” it means an error has been made, or you could not get good contact with the inner ear. If this happens, repeat the process until you get a reading.
Must-Knows Before Taking Temperature in Your Ear: What Should the Temperature Be in Your Ear?
Medical experts agree that accurate temperature readings can be made by probing the armpit, anus, oral cavity, forehead, and ear.
However, the benchmarks of temperature regularity in each specific region require some discussion because there is quite a bit of variance. About the ear thermometer fever chart below,
Ear Thermometer Fever Chart:
1. A normal oral temperature is 98.6°F (37°C)
2. A normal forehead temperature is 98.1°F (36.7°C) to 97.6°F (36.4°C)
3. A normal armpit temperature is also 98.1°F (36.7°C) to 97.6°F (36.4°C)
4. A normal anal temperature is 99.1°F (37.3°C) to 98.6°F (37°C)
5. A normal ear temperature is also 99.1°F (37.3°C) to 98.6°F (37°C)
What’s Considered a Fever with an Ear Thermometer?
When a child has a temperature reading using an anal or ear thermometer of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, this is evidence of a possible fever. The anal thermometer is thought to be the most accurate method for children under 2 years of age. Experts suggest taking about three readings with an ear thermometer to ensure accuracy.
Does One Add a Degree to an Ear Thermometer?
You do not need to add a degree to the ear thermometer. Doctors use a chart like the one above to determine whether the temperature is high for the type of thermometer used.
Although many attempt to simplify the method by asking their doctors, “Do you add a degree to the ear thermometer?” This would only be helpful as a general rule of thumb in detecting severe fevers. However, in the long run, it becomes more confusing than useful.
When Should You Not Use an Ear Thermometer?
Even the most straightforward ear thermometers, like the ThermoPro Digital Medical Infrared Thermometer, can give misreadings if the patient features a buildup of wax in their ears. To obtain accurate readings, the patient must first have a doctor remove the wax using a Waterpik device or drops of wax softener to flush it out.
You should never attempt to remove the wax yourself because the ear’s surface is as delicate as the eye’s retina. Even micro-scratches can cause swelling and pain. Inserting objects in the ear can cause hearing damage and injury. You should also avoid contact with the ear if the patient has ear pain, infection, or has had surgery recently.
Can You Put an Ear Thermometer in Your Mouth?
You should never try to take the temperature of your oral cavity by inserting an ear thermometer into your mouth. Taking the temperature in the ear should only be done if the patient’s ears are healthy enough to accept it.
Otherwise, you should use an oral thermometer to check the oral temperature. The ear thermometer reading would not be accurate if you used it in the oral cavity because it is calibrated for ear temperatures.
Taking Temperature in the Ear
Always take the temperature in the same ear, as the reading in the right ear may differ from that in the left ear. This is a physiological difference that occurs naturally and is essential to keep in mind when taking a reading.
Consider External Factors
Ear temperature is often affected by things aside from actual blood heat, for instance, when the person has been:
1. Wearing something over their ears
2. Lying on one ear or the other
3. Exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures
4. Recently, swimming or bathing
In these cases, remove the external factors and wait 30 minutes before taking a temperature.
When Not to Use an Ear Thermometer
1. If prescription ear drops or other ear medications have been placed in the ear canal
2. If there is excess earwax
3. If the person has an outer ear infection. Using an ear thermometer could end in discomfort or pain
4. If there is blood or drainage in the ear
Community Questions & Answers
Q. How Long Do I Leave It?
Answer. Most ear thermometers have a button to initiate the reading and signal that it is complete with an audible beep or beep. It only takes a couple of seconds after the thermometer has been inserted, so the button is pressed until you hear the tone and the reading is displayed.
Q. Can I Put an Ear Thermometer in My Mouth?
Answer: Since the manufacturers advise that the auditory meatus should be clean and dry to encourage an honest reading, using an ear thermometer in your mouth would not be advisable. It’s not the environment it’s designed for. It would be hard to wash, or more importantly, ensure it took an accurate reading.
Q. How can I Get My Ear Thermometer to display in Celsius?
Answer: Since ear thermometers travel by digital programming on a chip, almost like a watch, each manufacturer could also be different. You can likely find the manual for your model by searching the web, and it should give you specific instructions.
Q. Does It Matter Which Ear the Thermometer is Employed in?
Answer: No, it doesn’t matter. It just depends on the patient’s preference. Try both sides to see which is most comfortable for you.
Conclusion
A digital infrared ear thermometer is beneficial for tracking a fever. It is fast and accurate if you know how to check patients and temperature variations.
Knowing how to assess the patient’s health and when to seek medical care is also critical to the patient’s health.
Many parents have accidentally given the wrong medications to their children or overlooked the severity of the fever because they did not have the proper guidance or tools to check.
If you interested in checking other best thermometer for toddlers be sure to check the Best Thermometer for Toddlers and these other articles.
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