Causes of fever in ear inflammation. Human body temperature: norm, changes and symptom of diseases Ear temperature is normal in adults

05.04.2020

When body temperature rises, fever occurs. A slight heat is usually beneficial as it indicates the body's ability to fight infection, as many pathogens can thrive in a narrow range of temperatures. However, too high a temperature (39.4 ° C and above in adults) is dangerous, in which case the body temperature should be closely monitored and, if necessary, brought down with medication. A digital ear thermometer, sometimes called tympanic (from the word "tympanum" - eardrum), allows you to quickly and easily measure body temperature in both an adult and a child. Ear thermometers measure the amount of infrared radiation (heat) emitted from the eardrum in the ear, and in most cases, they show the correct temperature.

Steps

Part 1

The choice of thermometer depending on age

For newborns, it is better to use a rectal thermometer. The most appropriate type of thermometer is mainly determined by age. A digital rectal thermometer is recommended for measuring the body temperature of babies from birth until about six months of age, as it is considered the most accurate. Ear thermometer accuracy is affected by earwax, ear infections, and narrow, swirling ear canals, making this type of thermometer less suitable for newborns.

Use an ear thermometer for infants with caution. Up to about three years of age, rectal thermometers give the most accurate results. For children younger than three years old, an ear thermometer can also be used to get a general idea of body temperature (which is better than nothing), but it should be remembered that at this age, readings of rectal, axillary and temporal (applied to the temporal artery) are considered more accurate. ) thermometers. A relatively small increase in temperature in infants may represent b O greater danger than in adults, so at this age the accuracy of the thermometer is especially important.

It is quite common for newborns and infants to have ear infections that distort the readings of an ear thermometer due to inflammation of the auditory canal. In such cases, the ear thermometer usually gives too high readings, so if only one ear is affected by the infection, take the temperature in the second as well.
Conventional digital thermometers can measure temperatures in the mouth (under the tongue), under the arm, or in the rectum, and are suitable for newborns, infants, older children, and adults.

For a child over three years old, any thermometer will do. After the age of three, children are less likely to have ear infections, and it is much easier for them to clean their ears by removing wax from them. Wax buildup in the ear canal distorts the ear thermometer readings, preventing it from registering the heat emanating from the eardrum. In addition, by the age of three, the auditory canal grows and becomes less curved. Therefore, from the age of three, all types of thermometers used in different parts of the body have approximately the same accuracy.
- If you, when measuring the temperature of a child's body with an ear thermometer, doubt his testimony, measure the rectal temperature with a conventional digital thermometer and compare the results.
- IN last decade Ear thermometers have become more widely available and are now available at many pharmacies and health supply stores.
Part 2
Temperature measurement
1. Clean your ear first. Since the accumulation of wax and other dirt in the ear canal can reduce the accuracy of the ear thermometer, you should thoroughly clean the ear before taking the temperature. Do not clean the ear with a cotton swab or the like, as wax and other dirt may then block the eardrum. The most secure and effective method to clean the ear canal is to put a few drops of olive oil, almond oil, mineral oil or a special liquid for the ears into it. The oil or ear drops will soften the wax and it can be washed out with water using a small rubber bulb to wash the ears. Wait until the ear canal is dry before taking the temperature.
  - If there is wax or other dirt in the ear canal, the ear thermometer will show a low temperature.
  - Do not attempt to take the temperature in the ear if it is painful, infected, damaged, or has recently been operated on.
2. Put a sterile cap on the tip of the thermometer. After taking the ear thermometer out of the box and reading the instructions, put a disposable sterile cap on its tip. Since you will be inserting the tip of the thermometer into the ear canal, it must be clean so as not to introduce an ear infection, to which young children are particularly prone. If, for any reason, the thermometer does not have sterile caps, or if they run out, wipe the thermometer tip with a disinfectant (alcohol, white vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide).
  - An excellent antiseptic is colloidal silver, which can be made at home, which will save you money.
  - Caps can only be reused if you carefully sterilize them. clean them up after And before use.
3. Pull the ear back and insert the thermometer. Taking the thermometer in your hand, turn it on, and, trying not to move your head (or holding the child's head in place), pull back the upper part of the auricle, slightly aligning and thereby slightly opening the auditory canal so that the tip of the thermometer can be inserted into it more easily. More precisely, the adult's ear should be slightly pulled up and then back; if it is a child's ear, gently pull it straight back. By straightening the ear canal, you will not damage it and avoid irritation by sticking the tip of the thermometer into it, as well as increase the accuracy of measurements.
  - To insert the thermometer at the correct distance, follow the instructions that came with it. It is not necessary to touch the eardrum with the tip, as the thermometer is not designed for this.
  - When measuring temperature, the ear thermometer picks up infrared signals coming from the eardrum, so its tip should be pushed into the auditory canal at a distance sufficient to ensure that there are no gaps between it and the walls of the canal.
4. Take readings. Gently insert the thermometer into the ear canal and hold it in place until you hear a beep (usually beeps) indicating that the temperature has been taken. After that, slowly and carefully remove the tip of the thermometer from the ear canal and read the temperature by looking at the digital display. Do not rely on your memory and write down the measured value - perhaps it will be useful to the doctor.
Part 3
Interpretation of readings
1. Determine if there is a fever. In view of all the above factors and the fact that measurements may be inaccurate due to the error of the thermometer and your mistakes, measure the temperature several times; it is best to use different thermometers on different areas body. Compare readings and average them. In addition, watch out for other signs of fever, such as sweating at rest, headache, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite, increased thirst.
  - Based on a single temperature measurement with an ear thermometer, no action or treatment should be taken.
  - Children can be seriously ill without a fever, or be completely healthy at temperatures up to 37.8 ° C, so do not rely only on thermometer readings and look for other symptoms.

Inflammation of the ear is a pathology, the causative agents of which can be bacteria, viruses, fungi. The main symptoms of an inflammatory ear disease are pain, tinnitus, leakage of pus from the ear canal, and symptoms of a cold. The temperature during inflammation of the ear can rise to critical numbers. The treatment regimen includes antibiotics, drugs to reduce pain, antipyretics, drops in the ears and nose.

There are the following causes of the disease:

weakened immunity;
complication of a cold;
the presence of chronic diseases in the patient;
head trauma, foreign objects in the ear canal;
violation of hygiene rules.

Improper blowing of the nose (the patient tries to blow out mucus from both nasal passages at once) and suppression of sneezing (covering his nose with his fingers) can be a direct impetus to the development of inflammation. Such actions lead to the throwing of mucus from the nose into the middle ear.

Types of otitis media

Otitis externa affects the ear shell and external canal.
Otitis media - the disease develops with the auditory ossicles located in it.
Otitis media is a lesion of the inner part of the ear with the apparatus responsible for balance (vestibular) located in it.

Signs of illness

Otitis proceeds with a rise in temperature figures. The growth of the temperature curve begins from the first minutes of the disease. The degree of its rise depends on a number of reasons.

The age of the patient (in children, the rise is usually higher due to the immaturity of thermoregulation systems).
Degrees of body resistance (in people with problems in the immune system, the reaction of the body is weak).
The presence of chronic diseases (any concomitant diseases weaken the patient's body).
Type of exciter.

It should be remembered that hyperthermia is a way to overcome the pathogen.

Pain can be the first symptom of pathology. For some time before its appearance, the patient may be disturbed by the symptoms of a cold. At first, the pain is of an acute shooting nature, aggravated by chewing food, coughing, hypothermia of the area of \u200b\u200bthe diseased organ, gives to the teeth or bones of the skull, temple. From the moment of formation of pus, the pain becomes throbbing, unbearable. The severity of pain is weakened after the release of pus to the outside.

Acute otitis media is characterized by the occurrence of stuffy ears and noise from the affected side. These patients are characterized by chills, loss of appetite, lethargy. After a rupture of the eardrum, pus begins to flow from the external auditory canal.

Otitis externa begins with imbalance and hearing loss. The patient has a feeling of extraneous noise in the affected ear, dizziness. These symptoms are aggravated by sudden turns of the head.

The disease is accompanied by mucous or purulent discharge from the nose (a symptom of a cold).

The nature of the temperature curve

Inflammation in the ears is characterized by hyperthermia with fluctuations in different time days. As a rule, in the morning hours, its numbers decrease and increase in the evening. Such fluctuations can exceed 1 C and last for 3-4 days.

Reasons for the drop in temperature:

the patient begins to take antibiotics;
the membrane ruptures, pus flows out.

In the event of complications (a breakthrough of pus into the cranial cavity with development or an abscess in the brain tissues), the temperature rises sharply, the patient's condition worsens.

Diagnostics

General blood analysis.
Inspection with a special funnel - inspect the external auditory canal, eardrum. The membrane is red, bulges outward, may have a hole. In the passage in this case there will be pus.
Sowing pus on a nutrient medium.
Audiometry - for the diagnosis of hearing impairment.
Determination of violations of the function of the vestibular analyzer - a finger-nose test, a study of trembling of the eyeballs.
X-ray examination of the head to detect skull injuries, identify pus.
Computed tomography of the temporal bone is performed to detect pus in this area.
MRI is performed to diagnose purulent complications.

Treatment

Antibacterial agents form the basis of treatment. Antibiotics are taken at regular intervals for at least 7-10 days. In the early days of illness, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics in injections. After the patient feels better, they can be transferred to tablets or capsules (in each case, the decision is made by the specialist individually). Only the attending physician selects antibiotics and changes their dose.

Antibiotics can provoke allergic reactions. Therefore, if a rash on the skin, itching is detected, the patient should consult a doctor who will change this remedy to another.

The fight against hyperthermia

The fight against hyperthermia begins at 38.5 C and above. The exception is cases when, in this state, the patient begins to have convulsions, visions appear, consciousness is clouded, or convulsions were earlier against the background of high temperature.

The fight against hyperthermia is carried out according to the following principles:

among antipyretics, paracetamol is preferred;
children use the drug in syrup or suppositories (put in the rectum);
after taking the drug, the patient does not need to wrap;
re-measure the temperature after 15-20 minutes.

It is good to alternate this remedy with wiping the patient with water. To do this, the skin of the trunk, arms and legs is rubbed to redness with water. room temperature with natural fabrics. After this, the patient is left undressed for some time. The temperature is measured again after 10-15 minutes.

Traditional medicine

Camphor oil is used at home. It is diluted with distilled water by half and heated in the hands or in a water bath. Oil drip 1-2 drops 2-3 times a day. The ear canal area is covered with cotton wool, the head is wrapped with a woolen scarf.

Camphor oil is an antiseptic, reduces pain. Camphor oil can be used only at the very beginning of the disease, until pus has formed. Camphor oil is contraindicated for children under two years of age and those with epilepsy.

You can use camphor oil in compresses on the area around the diseased organ. To do this, moisten a thick ball of gauze with oil, cover with cellophane, a ball of cotton, wrap everything with a scarf.

The juice of onion, garlic, aloe works well (good bactericidal preparations).

The onion (unpeeled) is simmered in a water bath until softened and juice appears, after which it is squeezed through cheesecloth. Warm onion juice is instilled 1-2 drops twice a day. This antiseptic will also help in the fight against noise.

It is better to use aloe juice from old leaves (older than three years). Before instillation, garlic juice must be diluted in distilled water or glycerin. This can prevent burns to the skin of the ear canal.

To combat the symptoms of a cold, means are used to stimulate the protective forces (tea from linden flowers, raspberry stalks, viburnum berries). Sugar is replaced with honey.

Conclusion

Otitis can be external, medium, internal (depending on location), acute and chronic (downstream). Symptoms differ in different localizations of the pathology. Antibiotics are used for at least seven (if necessary, ten) days. To combat the temperature, there are antipyretics (paracetamol). From folk remedies camphor oil, aloe juice, propolis will help. But it must be remembered that it is better to seek help from a specialist. And only after that start treatment. To combat the symptoms of a cold, linden, raspberries, viburnum, and honey are used.

Imagine that once there were no thermometers at all. At the dawn of the development of science, body temperature was judged by direct sensation, that is, by touch and very approximately: hot, warm, cold. What can we say about the accuracy of such measurements. Finally, a mercury thermometer entered our lives - an extremely simple device in the form of a glass tube filled with mercury. However, scientific and technological progress has also affected him. As a result, an electronic thermometer was born, which combines not only the speed and accuracy of measurements, but also a number of additional functions.

Body temperature is one of the main indicators of health status. And if children appear in the house, the thermometer becomes one of the essentials. After all, treatment first of all begins with diagnostics, and here one cannot do without thermometry. So how and how to measure the temperature of a child so that it is accurate, fast, convenient and safe?

Where can you take your child's temperature?

in the armpit
in the rectum (rectal)
in the mouth (orally)
in the inguinal fold
in the elbow
on the forehead
in the ear.

How should temperature be measured?

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We measure the temperature: in the inguinal fold

To accurately measure children's body temperature in the inguinal fold, the child's leg should be slightly bent at the hip joint so that the thermometer is in the formed skin fold.

We measure the temperature: in the elbow bend

To accurately measure children's body temperature in the elbow bend, it is necessary to bend the child's handle in the elbow joint, place the thermometer in the elbow bend and press the hand so that the thermometer tip is tightly covered from all sides.

Forehead temperature measurement

To accurately measure body temperature on the forehead, it is enough to gently run the forehead thermometer on the forehead near the temples, and after a few seconds the temperature will be determined. Or apply a strip of thermotest on the forehead (for 15 seconds). The forehead is one of the best places to take temperature due to the presence of an artery that carries blood from the heart to the brain.

We measure the temperature: in the ear canal

To accurately measure body temperature in the ear canal, no effort is needed on the part of the child. Pulling the earlobe up and back, you need to try to straighten the ear canal so that the eardrum becomes visible. After that, you need to insert the probe of the thermometer into the ear. Ear measurements measure the body's "core" temperature, which is the temperature of vital organs, since the eardrum is supplied with blood from the same system as the brain's temperature control center, the hypothalamus. Therefore, changes in body temperature are reflected faster and more accurately in the ear than elsewhere. The thermometry of the ear thermometers continues for one to two seconds. In order not to damage the eardrum, ear thermometers are equipped with special soft tips and are absolutely safe.

Attention!

In no case should you use the ear canal to measure temperature with conventional thermometers.

When measuring the temperature of a child, it should be noted that in different parts of the body it is not the same (relative to the temperature in the armpit

The material was prepared by Ekaterina Belova

Otitis media, or inflammation of the ear canals, is a common disease childhood. Doctors say that by the age of three, 90% of children suffer from this disease at least once. Otitis has a number characteristic symptoms, one of them is an increase in temperature, which worries parents of sick babies very much. How long does the fever last with this disease and how to alleviate the child's condition?

An infectious-inflammatory process in the ear canal occurs as a complication of viral and bacterial infections of the respiratory system and nasopharynx. The causative agents of the disease are usually adenoviruses, influenza viruses, Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococci.. Due to the fact that the work of the immune system in childhood is not well established, otitis media often accompanies diseases characterized by difficulty in nasal breathing - tonsillitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, laryngitis, etc.

In infants, the cause of the development of the disease lies in special structure organs of hearing. A small tube, which is called the Eustachian, in infants passes close to the pharynx, which facilitates the easy penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the ear. In addition, children under the age of one year are constantly in a horizontal position, which is why mucus flows into the Eustachian tube, causing inflammation. With age, the auditory tube becomes longer, narrower and located at a greater angle to the pharynx, as a result of which the mucous secretions practically do not enter the ears.

Important! Otitis has a number characteristic features, by which it is quite easy to recognize the disease: ear pain, weakness, dyspeptic manifestations (nausea, vomiting) and fever, but in general, the baby's condition depends on the form of the disease.

Table. The main forms of otitis.

Form of otitis media	Symptoms
	Lethargy and apathy, constant crying and irritability in infants, the appearance of purulent discharge from the ears, fever. Purulent otitis media is characterized by severe hyperthermia (from 38 degrees and above), and the temperature goes down only for a short time, after which it rises again.
	Severe ear pain that radiates to the head and teeth, hearing loss, deterioration in general condition. Fever is one of the symptoms of this form of otitis media, but the numbers on the thermometer depend on the functioning of the immune system.
	Gradual hearing loss, tinnitus. In most cases, exudative otitis occurs without hyperthermia, sometimes subfebrile temperature is possible (not higher than 37-37.5 degrees).

In addition to the above classification, otitis media is divided according to the localization of the inflammatory process, which can occur in the outer or middle ear, in acute or chronic form etc.

On a note! The most difficult to diagnose is exudative otitis media, since it is almost asymptomatic, and children and parents practically do not pay attention to a slight hearing loss and tinnitus.

Causes some difficulties and the definition of the disease in infants who cannot tell about their condition. Signs of otitis in this case are capriciousness and anxiety, refusal of the breast, constant crying for no apparent reason and hearing loss (the child does not respond to the voices of parents or extraneous sounds). You can diagnose an illness in infants using a simple test - just lightly press on a small protrusion (tragus) next to the baby's ear. If the child cries a lot after this, it means that this movement caused an increase in pain, which is typical for otitis media.

Why does fever rise with otitis media?

An increase in temperature is a natural reaction of the body to inflammatory and infectious processes in the body. The numbers on the thermometer for this disease depend on the clinical course, the state of immunity and the age of the child - infants tolerate the disease much more difficult than older children.

Most often, a high temperature occurs with a purulent form of otitis media, and the fever lasts until the pus comes out of the ear, on its own or after appropriate medical procedures. The duration of the hyperthermic stage can be from 3 to 7 days, after which the temperature drops to normal limits.

Another reason for the increase in temperature in otitis media is the complications of the disease that develop as a result of improper treatment. The most dangerous consequences of ear inflammation are mastoiditis (damage to the tissues of the mastoid process, accompanied by the development of osteomyelitis), meningitis and otogenic sepsis. The following clinical picture is typical for the development of complications: the patient's condition improves for several days, after which ear pain, fever and other manifestations of the disease reappear.

Can otitis proceed without fever?

Otitis is not always accompanied by fever - there are several forms of the disease for which fever is not typical. Most often, this course of the disease is observed in an inflammatory process caused not by an infectious infection, but by mechanical damage to the skin of the ear canal. A wound is formed at the site of injury, causing burning and pain, which intensify if microbes enter the wound, and an abscess forms in its place.

In addition, if pain in the ear occurs without hyperthermia and other general symptoms, differential diagnosis of otitis media with otomycosis (damage to the structures of the hearing organs by fungal microorganisms), eczema of the ear canal should be carried out. It is possible to distinguish fungal diseases of the ear from inflammatory processes by the presence of itching, which is characteristic of fungal infections. There is no increase in temperature and with diffuse external otitis and atypical course of the inflammatory process.

In what cases should you immediately consult a doctor?

The temperature during otitis causes a lot of discomfort to both the baby himself and his parents. This symptom in any case requires a visit to a doctor, but in some situations, the child needs medical help immediately. You need to call an ambulance when the temperature is high:

observed in a child under the age of six months;
does not go astray with conventional antipyretic drugs;
accompanied by dyspeptic disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) or skin rash, severe headache, weakness.

The above signs may indicate not only otitis media, but also other dangerous diseases, so it is best to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment of otitis media with fever

It is recommended to bring down the temperature only in those cases when it exceeds 38-38.5, and in children suffering from convulsive syndrome, cardiovascular disorders or other comorbidities, valid numbers are 37-37.5. If the fever is not too severe, and the child feels satisfactory, the use of antipyretics is not recommended to give the body the opportunity to fight the infection on its own. In order to bring down the temperature, it is better to use preparations containing ibuprofen or paracetamol in the appropriate dosage - they will not only eliminate the fever, but also reduce pain in the ear.

The main component of the treatment of otitis accompanied by fever is antibacterial agents, which can be local (used in the focus of inflammation) or systemic. In cases of a mild course of the disease - the disease is accompanied only by pain in the ears and subfebrile temperature - the fight against the pathological process, as a rule, is limited to the use local preparations. If such treatments are ineffective, systemic therapy should be considered.

With purulent otitis, the use of antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Flemoxin Solutab), which are prescribed by a doctor, is indicated. An increase in temperature during otitis plays another important role - it helps to evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen treatment regimen. With proper therapy, an improvement in the condition and a decrease in temperature are observed already in the first day. If the fever persists for several days, it is necessary to select other drugs. With proper treatment, catarrhal otitis media passes on average in a week, purulent - in two weeks.

General principles for the treatment of otitis media in children

In order to get rid of the disease and its symptoms as soon as possible, it is necessary to adhere to general rules treatment of ear diseases.

Antibiotics for oral administration are prescribed exclusively by the attending physician. As a rule, therapy includes cephalosporins and penicillins, and in the presence of allergies, macrolides.
It is not advisable to use drops containing antibiotics in the first stages of the disease - drugs with analgesic and decongestant effects are better suited. They are used in the acute phase of the disease in the presence of perforation, as well as in cases of chronic otitis media.
In acute otitis media, it is recommended to instill vasoconstrictor drops from rhinitis into the child's nasal passages, which will restore normal communication between the nasal passages and the middle ear.
If the child does not have a temperature and purulent discharge from the ears, you can put warm compresses. They are applied not on the auricle itself, but around it - in a bandage or gauze folded several times, a hole is made for the ear, after which the cloth is moistened in diluted alcohol or vodka, and a compress is applied on one side of the head. From above it is covered with polyethylene, insulated with cotton wool and fixed with a scarf. The duration of the procedure is at least two hours.
You can warm sore ears with a medical reflector with a blue lamp or a bag of salt, but such activities can also be carried out only in the absence of fever and pus.
Use folk recipes for the treatment of otitis media in children, especially without consulting a doctor, it is categorically not recommended - self-medication can complicate the course of the disease and provoke serious complications.

You should not bathe a child with otitis media - it is better to wipe with warm water. Meals should include light but nutritious meals with enough vitamins. Walking is allowed only after the temperature returns to normal, and the pain in the ear and purulent discharge disappear, and the baby needs to wear a hat for the duration of his stay on the street.

Prevention of otitis media

To prevent the development of otitis media in children, you can use simple preventive measures. First of all, avoid colds and boost immunity: take vitamin complexes, consume fresh vegetables and fruits, temper the child. If the baby is still ill with a cold or SARS, treatment should take place in a timely manner and under the supervision of a doctor. In no case should you clean earwax with items that are not intended for these purposes - pins, matches, invisible hairpins. Children under three years of age require constant adult supervision - babies of this age often put foreign objects in their ears, as a result of which purulent otitis media develops.