Are ear thermometers reliable?

[MerinoFroggie]

My ear thermometer must be 11 years old now. It's a brain ear thermometer.

I'm getting some funny readings over the past week. Like:
37.8 in one ear,
37. 4 in another ear,
Go back and take the temperature in the other ear and it's 37.6,
Go back to the other ear and it's 37.3

The readings are jumpy.

I got a covid test last week and it was not detected result. I am following the rules and guidelines and minimising contacts and outings and there's no body in my circle sick or a positive with covid.

I find I have some low readings in the morning about 36.7, then it rises to 37 for late morning and afternoon. Then in the evening it's sits high-ish enough about 37.6 or sometimes 37.7.

I don't feel sick. I don't have a cold. No body in my family has colds. I can't find any other pain in the body that could indicate a bacterial infection and a cause for a raised temperature.

I really don't think it's covid.

I did ovulated last weekend and I had tummy cramps. I don't know if that has anything to do with the raised temperature. I'm going going through a lot of stress in work too. Also going through other stress too. I don't know if any of that would contribute to a raised temperature.

The readings are so jumpy over the past week.

Those readings are very close. Have you ever taken very frequent readings like this? I often have different readings in each ear. I'd say a difference of a point or two isn't unusual either, in subsequent readings. I've taken my temperature (hot) because I was concerned, left it a few minutes and taken it again, and it's been normal. I can flush after eating hot food, for example.

I'd be more interested in a temperature trend than a single reading.

They can be inaccurate, yes. I bought a forehead electronic thermometer in preparation for the pandemic, but that was totally wrong. I'm now back to using 30 year old mercury ones.

Ovulation does affect temperature too. That's why women with fertility issues track their temperature to identify ovulation.

Can I ask what you do with your temperature readings and why you check your temperature so frequently?

I have had the Braun Thermoscan ear thermometer since my daughter was about 6 months,she's now nearly 15. I have always found it very reliable. Like someone else has said the ear temperature between both ears can vary a bit. Also like another lady said I often hot flush 🤣. I'm 45 lol. They are definitely worth the money and has lasted well over a decade and is still going strong.

I check my temperature every day for fever just in case there is an infection brewing.

Do you have an immunity issue ?

I don't think I have an immunity issue. Unless there is something wrong that I don't know about.

I am late 30s, so maybe flushes are more likely. I ha e to work with a mask on all day and in the evening ls the heat is blasted on on top of it and I can sometimes feel my head melting and I am so happy just to get out from work and into the fresh air and go home.

These are small variations.
Have you changed the batteries and do you use change the ear guard each time?

Yes, the battery went dead last week and I changed the batteries new ones. They are pound shop batteries.

I don't change the ear cover every time.

No, I'm a nurse and we do t use them.

When I am checking temperatures if it is a bit high or low I will check it again a couple of times in quick succession. It usually bounces round by at least 0.5 degrees. Normally if someone has a fever I get a consistently raised reading, not just a quirky odd one.

@Toddlerteaplease

No, I'm a nurse and we do t use them.

You don’t use ear thermometers? What do you use? Every hospital stay I’ve been to has involved ear thermometers.

I'm finished work now and I'm home and checked my temperature. It was
37.7 in both ears, then it was
37.6 in both ears, then it was
37.5, then
37.4

Ear thermometers read high and you also need to make sure they are properly inserted. The most accurate thermometer is a rectal one

So that's very normal, then. Limit yourself to one reading a day. Tops. You're fine.