Aural and Nasal Temperature Measurements Using an Infrared Thermometer vs Conventional Axillary and Oral Measurements

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare aural temperature measurements with conventional methods (axillary and oral) in patients with unilateral tympanic membrane perforation or myringosclerosis. The study also aimed to test the potential nasal use of infrared thermometer. Materials and Methods: Forty-four adult patients with monoaural tympanic membrane perforation and 29 adult patients with monoaural myringosclerosis were included in this prospective study conducted between June 2007 and November 2008. The contralateral ears of the patients were normal. Inter-aural, axillary, oral and nasal temperature measurement results of the patients were compared. Results: Similar measurement results were obtained from the two ears in patients with monoaural perforation (P = 0.7780, SD± 0.3189). Similarly, in patients with monoaural myringosclerosis, no statistically significant difference was found between the measurements from the normal and diseased ear (P = 0.9346, SD± 0.2244). Measurements obtained by using nasal infrared thermometer was significantly lower compared to aural, axillary and oral measurements (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Perforation of tympanic membrane and myringosclerosis are usually asymptomatic and their presence does not effect the aural temperature measurements done by an infrared tympanic thermometer. Nasal temperature measurement by an infrared thermometer is not a reliable method, as it gives significantly lower results than actual body temperature.