Special situations
The Braun ThermoScan thermometer has been shown in clinical studies to obtain accurate temperatures on persons of all ages. However, there are certain situations when the ear thermometer should not be used. These include but may not be limited to the following situations.
•If there is blood or drainage in the external ear canal.
•For persons who have deformities of the face and ear canal where the probe of the thermometer cannot be inserted fully into the ear canal.
•For persons wearing hearing aids or ear plugs, remove the device and wait 20 minutes prior to taking a temperature.
•Use the untreated ear if prescription ear drops or other ear medi- cations have been placed in the ear canal.
Never attempt to clean inside ears. You could damage the ear drum or surrounding tissues. You should remove excess ear wax only when you can reach it with a wash cloth. If you suspect that you or your child has excess ear wax, consult your physician.
Fever facts
Many persons may not have an elevated temperature even when they are ill. These include, but are not limited to infants under
90 days of age, persons taking steroids, antibiotics or antipyretics (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin), persons with compromised immune systems, including the elderly or persons with some chro- nic illnesses. Consult your physician if you feel an illness is present even if there may not be an elevated temperature.
Fever is described as an elevation of body temperature over an individual’s «normal» temperature.
An elevated temperature or fever is often viewed as a danger sign. In fact, a fever can be very beneficial, and helps our immune system work more effectively. A fever should be evaluated in the light of other physical symptoms. With the exception of newborn infants, the presence of fever, without any other symptoms of ill- ness, or in a child who is behaving normally may not be cause for concern. On the other hand, a physician should be consulted in the following situations:
-vomiting
-diarrhea
-changes in appetite, activity or breathing, or
-with children who are irritable, lethargic or unusually sleepy.
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