Thread: Ear Thermometer Blues

Can anyone tell me why ear thermometers always have different readings in different ears? My DD who is 7 has the flu and has been running a really high fever. The past few days when I take her temperature I get 104 in her right ear and 102.8 in the left. Does anyone else have this problem? Why does it do this? Which reading is the right one? Hoping someone out there is with me on this.

Thanks.:cross:

if she has had her head laying down on one side or her hand on her ear that will raise the temp. Also, if she has an infection/fluid on one side that could raise the temp.

also try using a clean cover with each side.

Unfortunately it is nothing that simple. Its every time I take her temperature now. She is not leaning on one ear or anything like that before hand. Thanks though. Didnt know if anyone else has had this problem or maybe its an ear thermometer thing. At a loss!

I know too late to be helpful for your dd, but it's an ear thermometer thing. I laugh when the nurses in the ped's office take temps iwth it - I always tell them to take it at least 3 times and then average the temps.

If you don't get the thermometer in the exact right place, the temp will be different each time. I believe that you are supposed to gently pull the ear up while inserting the thermometer. I used to have one, but my kids got to it LOL.

Golly.
Our ear therm seems to work. Its our second Thermascan (is that the brand you have) and it seems accurate in each ear.

We had a couple/few ear thermometers and they all did that. And yes, didn't matter how/where you pulled the ear or if you used a brand new super expensive cover each time. Right now my drs office has one he points at your forehead . . it says my temp is 97 point something every time, even if I have a fever. So it might just be our curse. We haven't had a working thermometer since the basal one broke.

I had my first ear therm in 1990, it stopped working in 2001 0r 02 and then I got a new one.
I rarely change covers (just wipe 'em) and have never noticed this issue with different readings in different ears!
I'm going to check it soon and do tests to see!

I hate ear themometers with a passion! Last one got bludgeoned by a hammer while I cackled in revenge.

I like my mercury thermometer best of all. Those rock. (though I do live in fear of dropping it!)

I think they have alcohol glass ones, less scary if dropped I think. We had one, but it got lost I think. I liked it because it had an anti-roll end, which was kind of triangle shaped, so it wouldn't roll off the bedside table and get broken or lost.