Final answer:
Pneumatic otoscopy can reveal a bulging, erythematous tympanic membrane characteristic of acute otitis media (AOM), or fluid in the middle ear, indicative of otitis media with effusion (OME), in a patient with fever. These findings would suggest a middle ear infection or fluid accumulation, both of which can be accompanied by fever.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pneumatic otoscopy is a diagnostic procedure used to examine the condition of the ear, especially the tympanic membrane and the middle ear. When a patient presents with a fever and undergoes a pneumatic otoscopy, the findings could potentially reveal several conditions. One common finding could be 1) A bulging, erythematous tympanic membrane, which is characteristic of acute otitis media (AOM). This condition is marked by the accumulation of pus in the middle ear due to infection, which cannot drain normally, causing the tympanic membrane to bulge.
Alternatively, the otoscopy might show 3) Fluid in the middle ear, which is associated with otitis media with effusion (OME). This happens when fluid gets trapped in the middle ear, possibly after an infection, even if the infection itself has resolved. The other options mentioned, such as a normal tympanic membrane or an inflamed external ear canal, are less likely to be associated directly with a fever unless accompanied by other specific symptoms or conditions like otitis externa.