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A 29-year-old female asked:
How accurate are the thermometers that measure body temp through the ear? more or less accurate than traditional oral thermometers or about the same?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
Rheumatology 54 years experience
The same: Ear thermometers are very accurate.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
411 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Renu Chawlaanswered
Internal Medicine 29 years experience
Body temperature: Both oral and ear thermometers are accurate and if used properly, these have a little margin for error.
The average normal oral temperature is 98.6°F (37°C).
An ear (tympanic) temperature is 0.5°F (0.3°C) to 1°F (0.6°C) higher than an oral temperature.
So when using different areas to measure temperature, one must know the normal temperature for that area.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
408 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Mar 3, 2018
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