Influence of otitis media on the correlation between rectal and auditory canal temperatures
T. E. Terndrup and A. Wong
Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York Health Science Center, Syracuse 13210.
In a noninterventional, controlled, single-blinded trial, 251 children were
examined in a university hospital emergency department setting to study the
influence of acute otitis media on the relationship between rectal and
auditory canal temperatures. Bilateral auditory canal temperatures were
measured using an infrared detection probe and microprocessor by nursing
staff blinded to the presence of acute otitis media. Correlation between
rectal and auditory canal temperatures in children with (r = .81) and
without (r = .75) acute otitis media were not significantly different.
There was no significant difference between infected (38.1 degrees C +/-
1.0 degree C) and uninfected ears (38.0 degrees C +/- 1.0 degree C) with
unilateral otitis (n = 75). Although significantly higher than in
uninfected children, auditory canal temperatures of children with acute
otitis media reflected elevated rectal temperatures and not differences in
auditory canal temperatures between ears.
