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Temperature Different In Both Ears 36.9 & 39.3

15 answers /

Last post: 09/06/2022 at 6:20 pm

ANONYMOUS
Anonymous
23/01/2011 at 10:24 am
DD is 3.7 years old, and started with croup last night, which she has had on quite a few occasions once being hospitalised.  She had a temperature of 37.8 during the night and I gave Nurofen, which seemed to take the temperature down.  

I checked her temperature when she first got up and it was within the normal range but about an hour later she started complaining of being cold but her whole body is very hot!!  I just checked her temperature and one ear is saying 36.9 but the other is saying 39.3!  I’ve given her calpol which will hopefully bring it down again but I’m wondering how there can be such a difference in temperature from each ear and which temperature I should be going with.
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ANONYMOUS
Anonymous
23/01/2011 at 11:15 am
Anyone?
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ELA14MHU
Ela14mhu
23/01/2011 at 11:18 am
Hi Charlie, i know there is a variation between ears which is normal but that it quite a difference.   Have you checked your own temperature with the same thermometer to check that its working right?   I would do that and if you have the sameish reading in both ears then i would call NHS24 to ask for advice xxxx
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ANONYMOUS
Anonymous
23/01/2011 at 11:37 am
I've since taken her temperature with a digital one under the arm and it was 38.3.  I've done her ears again and am now getting similar results in both ears of about 38.6 so I'm now wondering if I didn't have it in her ear properly.  I was reluctant to phone NHS 24 as I phoned before when she had croup, an extremely high temperature and was told it was not that high, and there was no need to worry, later that night she was admitted to hospital.  If she does not improve or if I’m concerned, I will phone or take her to A&E.  

Thanks for your reply.
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ELA14MHU
Ela14mhu
23/01/2011 at 11:39 am
Ive had a few awful experiences with NHS24 aswell to be honest!  I hope your little one is feeling better soon xxx  xx
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MAR55XPO
mar55xpo
23/01/2011 at 11:40 am
somtimes i've found in the morning i get odd readings in the ear they've been sleeping on.
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ANONYMOUS
Anonymous
23/01/2011 at 11:44 am
In answer to
Ela14mhu
Ive had a few awful experiences with NHS24 aswell to be honest!  I hope your little one is feeling better soon xxx  xx
Thanks Elaine. xx
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ANONYMOUS
Anonymous
23/01/2011 at 11:45 am
In answer to
mar55xpo
somtimes i've found in the morning i get odd readings in the ear they've been sleeping on.
 
Thanks Marie, I had thought of that but it was about an hour after her getting up.  I did take when she woke and both were normal.  Bit odd.
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MAR91DHN
Mar91dhn
23/01/2011 at 12:08 pm
You sometimes get odd readings in ears and there is no error in using the equipment or the person has not been laying on that ear prior to the reading. Rule of thumb is that you treat for the higher tempreture if you have made sure that the equipment is working by testing on yourself or any other siblings(if there is any). I have asked doctors about this and they said that there is no explanation except that maybe the earprobe fits the one ear better than the other ear.

Poor LO sounds very unhappy with a tempreture like that. Hope she gets well soon and that you were able to skip A&E.
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GEO36CUM
Geo36cum
23/01/2011 at 12:15 pm
Yes you can get different readings, depending on if the child has been laying on that ear, if the thermometer has not bee put in properly, also if the child has a ear infection in one ear can give a false reading too as too much wax can. Its always to best to give it a go a couple of times at least.

I hope you LO gets better soonx
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ANONYMOUS
Anonymous
23/01/2011 at 12:17 pm
Thanks Martha.  I've checked it on myself and I seem to be getting the same reading in both ears.  I'm giving DD Nurofen and Calpol (alternating it, I know the advice given now is to not alternate but my GP and the hospital have always said to do this to keep her temperature down) and it seems to be keeping her temperature under control.  She is a poor little soul though.
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ANONYMOUS
Anonymous
23/01/2011 at 12:19 pm
In answer to
Geo36cum
Yes you can get different readings, depending on if the child has been laying on that ear, if the thermometer has not bee put in properly, also if the child has a ear infection in one ear can give a false reading too as too much wax can. Its always to best to give it a go a couple of times at least.

I hope you LO gets better soonx
Thanks Georgia.  
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TER52GAC
TER52gac
24/01/2011 at 8:46 pm
i've just answered something similar on another thread. Ear thermometers can be inaccurate which is why we as a children's ward don't use them any more. We use the digital ones, which tend to be more accurate. There is a skill to taking a good ear temperature.

As pp have said, lying on that ear, ear infection, wax, all sorts of reasons why one ear will be higher than the other.
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ANONYMOUS
Anonymous
25/01/2011 at 1:49 pm
Thanks Teresa.
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CHELLE
Chelle
09/06/2022 at 6:20 pm

Hey everyone, 


Netmums moderator here just dropping in to add a link to some official information


The NHS says, " Ear (Tympanic ) thermometers - these allow you to take a temperature reading from the ear and are quick but expensive; they can give misleading readings if you do not put them in the ear correctly, which is more likely to happen with babies because their ear holes are so small"


Instead, they recommend that you "use a digital thermometer in your child's armpit and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully".


You can read more here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/health/how-to-take-your-babys-temperature/


Or check out our guide to measuring and treating fevers in babies and children: https://www.netmums.com/baby/treating-a-fever-in-children

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