Objective: The reliability of infrared tympanic thermometry (ITT) in children and the effect of acute otitis media (AOM) on ITT are unsettled. This study assessed the effect of AOM on ITT and the utility of ITT in the diagnosis of AOM.
Methods: 520 consecutive children, aged 6 months to 6 years, presenting to the ED of an urban teaching hospital were eligible for this prospective observational study. Nurses recorded oral or rectal reference temperatures (RefTs) and bilateral ITT temperatures upon presentation. Emergency physicians were blinded to the ITT temperatures. AOM was diagnosed according to published clinical criteria.
Results: Among 520 patients, 108 had unilateral AOM and 78 had bilateral AOM. In patients with unilateral AOM, the infected ears were warmer (I = 100.4 +/- 1.8 degrees F) than the uninfected ears (U = 100.3 +/- 1.8 degrees F, p = 0.035). However, the disparity in TM temperatures in infected and uninfected ears with unilateral AOM (I - U = 0.2 +/- 0.9 degrees F) was similar to the difference between right and left ears in those without AOM (R - L = 0.1 +/- 0.8 degrees F, p = 0.60). Compared with patients without AOM, patients with AOM demonstrated no significant elevation of ITT temperatures over RefTs (I - RefT = -0.8 +/- 1.2 degrees F in AOM; ITT - RefT = -0.8 +/- 1.2 degrees F in non-AOM; p = 0.94). This study had >99% power to detect a 1.0 degrees F difference for all groups compared.
Conclusions: Infrared tympanic temperature are not helpful in diagnosing AOM in children. AOM has little direct effect on ITT temperatures.