Aim: To evaluate the reliability of infrared tympanic thermometry in children who have undergone myringotomy with grommet insertion.
Method: Forty children who had undergone myringotomy with at least one grommet insertion had the tympanic temperature of each ear and the axillary temperature measured on admission and 30 minutes post-operatively.
Result: No difference was found between the pre- and post-operative temperatures measured by either method (p > 0.05, paired t-test, hypothesized difference of 0).
Conclusion: Infrared tympanic thermometry is reliable in monitoring body temperature in children who have had minor ear surgery.