Final answer:
For patients under the age of 3, an infrared ear thermometer is used to measure tympanic temperature by pulling the ear back and up. Such thermometers are accurate, prevent cross-infection, and are suitable for patients with acute otitis media. Thermometer uncertainty is important, and it should be as low as possible for effective diagnosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
When taking a tympanic (ear) temperature on a patient under the age of 3, it is important to use a specialized infrared ear thermometer. This device was developed by the Diatek Corporation and NASA, utilizing infrared astronomy technology to measure the amount of energy emitted by the eardrum. Such thermometers allow for rapid temperature measurement which is vital for newborns, critically-ill, or incapacitated patients. They also reduce the risk of cross infection since they do not contact mucous membranes.
For children under 3 years old, the technique for measuring temperature with an ear thermometer requires pulling the ear back and up to straighten the ear canal, this helps with getting an accurate reading. This practice is usually different from adults and older children, where the ear is pulled back and down.
Furthermore, understanding the uncertainty of a thermometer is essential. For accuracy, a thermometer's uncertainty should be as low as possible; an uncertainty of 3.0°C, for example, would render the thermometer ineffective in accurately diagnosing a fever.
When dealing with young patients, conditions like acute otitis media, which is a common middle ear infection in this age group, make the use of such non-invasive and quick-reading thermometers an even better choice for patient comfort and effective diagnosis.