About Digital Ear Thermometers
Digital ear thermometers are an excellent way to take someone's body temperature. There are several distinct advantages to using a digital ear thermometer instead of a typical "place under your tongue" thermometer, although there are some drawbacks as well. Understanding the way digital ear thermometers work is essential in knowing the best thermometer to use for any particular purpose.
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History
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Two technological development paths led to the introduction of the affordable digital ear thermometer. The first is digital technology. Instead of reading the position of a needle against a calibrated scale behind the needle, numbers are simply displayed on a read-out. The second technology path is thermal imaging. The fact that heat is a form of radiation that can be detected and evaluated led to instrumentation to translate the thermal radiation amount into a temperature. As both technologies progressed, the products that used them grew smaller and less expensive.
Function
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The basic function of a digital ear thermometer is to give a temperature of the human body. The digital ear thermometer should not be used on infants under the age of 6 months because the size of the infant's ear is too small at that age.
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Time Frame
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One of the most important features of a digital ear thermometer is the amount of time it requires to attain an accurate temperature reading. Accurate temperature readings can typically be achieved in two seconds or less, a big advantage when trying to get the body temperature of a fidgety child.
Warning
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Digital ear thermometers should only be used as the manufacturer advises. Failure to do so can lead to errors in temperature readings.
Considerations
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Time and money are usually considerations for anyone involved in the health care field, which of course can include parents as they tend to the health of their children. The time involved, two seconds or less, in obtaining an accurate temperature reading gives digital ear thermometers a big advantage. Digital ear thermometers tend to be more expensive than other temperature-measuring devices, such as oral thermometers, and parents need to make their health care expenditures last as long as possible. Therefore, digital ear thermometers should be considered whenever the appropriate budget allows.
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