Body Temperature Is 96, But I Feel Sick: Causes and More

Normal body temperatures vary, but if your temperature is 96 and you feel sick, there might be something else going on. It could a sign of sepsis, or something simpler. Only your doctor can tell you for sure.

You may feel ill and take your temperature assuming you have a fever. Instead, your thermometer reads 96°F (35.55°C). This lower-than-average temperature could occur for several reasons. You may have an illness that corresponds to low temperatures. You may have taken your temperature incorrectly. Age may play a factor. Finally, you may have a health condition causing a lower body temperature.

Understanding body temperature is important to making sense of your 96-degree reading. Long ago, doctors considered 98.6°F (37°C) to be a “normal” temperature. That has changed in recent years. A normal temperature is now considered to be a bit lower than that, and it depends on your age and the method you use to measure your temperature.

One 2019 research review looked at 36 prior studies about body temperature and found that adults less than 60 years old had an average temperature of 98.04°F (36.68°C). Adults more than 60 years old had a average temperature of 97.7°F (36.5°C).

The study also examined body temperatures taken with different methods. These average temperatures by method were:

• Rectal: 98.67°F (37.04°C)
• Eardrum: 97.95°F (36.64°C)
• Oral: 97.83°F (36.57°C)
• Armpit: 96.75°F (35.97°C)

Average temperatures for newborns and children are also different:

• Newborns: 97.7 and 99.5°F (36.5 and 37.5°C).
• Children: 96.8 and 99.5°F (36 and 37.5°C).

Certain illnesses, or incorrect temperature readings, could factor into why your thermometer reads 96°F (35.55°C), but you feel sick. Low body temperature could also be a symptom of a serious illness like hypothermia or sepsis, but you’d likely have severe symptoms.

Incorrect temperature taking

One common reason your thermometer may read 96°F (35.55°C) is because you took your temperature incorrectly.

• Make sure you are following the manufacturer’s instructions for your thermometer.
• Consider any factors that could have led to an inaccurate temperature. An oral reading may be affected if you’ve sipped a cold drink or kept your mouth open while taking your temperature. An armpit reading may be lower if you did not hold the thermometer in the correct place or if you improperly closed your arm.
• Take your temperature a few times to make sure the reading is correct.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when your body is at 95°F (35°C) or lower in adults. For children and infants, it can occur when their temperature is lower than a reading in the normal range. Hypothermia is a very serious medical condition that can lead to death if not treated immediately by medical professionals.

This condition can occur because of exposure to cold weather, submersion in cold water, prolonged time in cold and wet clothes, or a cold home environment. An early symptom of hypothermia is shivering.

Hypothermia requires immediate medical attention, so you should call for emergency help if you suspect you have hypothermia. If you have to wait for medical help, try to warm yourself up with blankets or a hot drink.

Sepsis

A drop in body temperature could be a symptom of sepsis. This occurs when your body starts fighting itself instead of an infection. It can damage to your tissues, shut down your organs, and even lead to death. Other symptoms of sepsis include:

• symptoms of infection
• changes in mental state
• feeling very sick, such as having a hard time breathing or feeling pain

Seek immediate medical help if you think you might have sepsis.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid is not functioning properly. It does not create enough of your thyroid hormone for your body. Therefore, you may experience:

• a decreased body temperature
• fatigue
• dry skin
• mood changes
• constipation

You can take medication to improve your thyroid’s hormone production.

Advanced age

You may have a lower body temperature as you age. You may have less body fat in your arms and legs, dry skin, and a slowed metabolism as you get older. These can all contribute to a lower body temperature.

Medications

Taking certain medications could lower your temperature. These include beta-blockers and some antipsychotics.

Exposure to cold temperatures

Your temperature may be low if you have been outside in cold weather. Wear warm enough clothes and keep your head covered in cold weather. Avoid getting wet in cold weather.

Keeping babies in a normal temperature range is very important to avoid hypothermia or other illnesses. Some factors that could influence a baby’s temperature include:

• low birth weight
• prematurity
• their birth environment being too cold
• hypoglycemia
• infection

Take your baby’s temperature using the same method every time. Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature, and let the infant warm up if they have been brought in from the cold.

The best temperature-taking methods for infants and toddlers are:

• In the armpit. Place the thermometer in the middle of the armpit, and close the arm against the body. Wait 3 minutes for an accurate measurement, or follow the thermometer’s instructions.
• In the rectum. Put a protective sleeve over the thermometer and add a lubricant to it. Insert the tip of the thermometer in the rectum (no more than 2 centimeters) and wait 5 seconds before pulling it out and reading it, or follow the thermometer’s instructions.
• In the eardrum (for infants more than 3 months old). Place the thermometer into the ear, seal off the ear, and turn on the thermometer. Pull it out when the thermometer indicates it’s taken the reading.
• Contactless forehead: Some thermometers allow you to take a child’s temperature without contact. The thermometer and forehead must be movement-free to get an accurate reading. Press the temperature button. Your device will beep or flash to let you know the temperature is ready to be read.

Learn more about contactless thermometers here.

Call a healthcare professional if your temperature is 96°F (35.55°C) and you feel sick. You can describe your symptoms over the phone. They may offer a diagnosis or ask you to make an office visit.

You need immediate medical treatment if your temperature drops due to hypothermia or sepsis. Seek care if your temperature is declining and you have:

• breathing difficulty
• slowed speech
• confusion or other mental changes
• tiredness
• blue skin or lips

Infants with a low body temperature should be seen by a doctor immediately. Other symptoms of hypothermia in infants include red or discolored and cold skin, sleepiness, and disinterest in feeding.

Below are commonly asked questions regarding a low body temperature.

What causes a low temperature of 96F?

There are many different causes of low body temperature, including:

• incorrect temperature taking
• advanced age
• cold exposure or hypothermia
• certain health conditions

What does it mean when you have a low temperature?

Having a low body temperature can mean different things depending on its cause. It may mean that you have taken a temperature reading wrong or your living environment is too cold. A low temperature can also indicate an underlying health condition.

What illness causes low temperature?

Certain health conditions may cause a drop in body temperature, including hypothermia, hyperthyroidism, and sepsis.

What should I do if my body temperature is low?

If your body temperature is low, you should move to a warm, sheltered location as soon as possible and retake a temperature reading. If a low body temperature accompanies other symptoms such as breathing difficulty or skin changes, you should seek medical assistance.

There are several reasons you feel ill and have a thermometer reading of 96°F (35.55°C). You may have a serious illness like hypothermia or sepsis that requires immediate attention. You may have taken your temperature incorrectly. Or you may have another underlying factor contributing to the lower temperature like advanced age, medication use, or hypothyroidism.

Body Temperature Is 96, But I Feel Sick: Causes and More

Normal body temperatures vary, but if your temperature is 96 and you feel sick, there might be something else going on. It could a sign of sepsis, or something simpler. Only your doctor can tell you for sure.

You may feel ill and take your temperature assuming you have a fever. Instead, your thermometer reads 96°F (35.55°C). This lower-than-average temperature could occur for several reasons. You may have an illness that corresponds to low temperatures. You may have taken your temperature incorrectly. Age may play a factor. Finally, you may have a health condition causing a lower body temperature.

Understanding body temperature is important to making sense of your 96-degree reading. Long ago, doctors considered 98.6°F (37°C) to be a “normal” temperature. That has changed in recent years. A normal temperature is now considered to be a bit lower than that, and it depends on your age and the method you use to measure your temperature.

One 2019 research review looked at 36 prior studies about body temperature and found that adults less than 60 years old had an average temperature of 98.04°F (36.68°C). Adults more than 60 years old had a average temperature of 97.7°F (36.5°C).

The study also examined body temperatures taken with different methods. These average temperatures by method were:

• Rectal: 98.67°F (37.04°C)
• Eardrum: 97.95°F (36.64°C)
• Oral: 97.83°F (36.57°C)
• Armpit: 96.75°F (35.97°C)

Average temperatures for newborns and children are also different:

• Newborns: 97.7 and 99.5°F (36.5 and 37.5°C).
• Children: 96.8 and 99.5°F (36 and 37.5°C).

Certain illnesses, or incorrect temperature readings, could factor into why your thermometer reads 96°F (35.55°C), but you feel sick. Low body temperature could also be a symptom of a serious illness like hypothermia or sepsis, but you’d likely have severe symptoms.

Incorrect temperature taking

One common reason your thermometer may read 96°F (35.55°C) is because you took your temperature incorrectly.

• Make sure you are following the manufacturer’s instructions for your thermometer.
• Consider any factors that could have led to an inaccurate temperature. An oral reading may be affected if you’ve sipped a cold drink or kept your mouth open while taking your temperature. An armpit reading may be lower if you did not hold the thermometer in the correct place or if you improperly closed your arm.
• Take your temperature a few times to make sure the reading is correct.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when your body is at 95°F (35°C) or lower in adults. For children and infants, it can occur when their temperature is lower than a reading in the normal range. Hypothermia is a very serious medical condition that can lead to death if not treated immediately by medical professionals.

This condition can occur because of exposure to cold weather, submersion in cold water, prolonged time in cold and wet clothes, or a cold home environment. An early symptom of hypothermia is shivering.

Hypothermia requires immediate medical attention, so you should call for emergency help if you suspect you have hypothermia. If you have to wait for medical help, try to warm yourself up with blankets or a hot drink.

Sepsis

A drop in body temperature could be a symptom of sepsis. This occurs when your body starts fighting itself instead of an infection. It can damage to your tissues, shut down your organs, and even lead to death. Other symptoms of sepsis include:

• symptoms of infection
• changes in mental state
• feeling very sick, such as having a hard time breathing or feeling pain

Seek immediate medical help if you think you might have sepsis.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid is not functioning properly. It does not create enough of your thyroid hormone for your body. Therefore, you may experience:

• a decreased body temperature
• fatigue
• dry skin
• mood changes
• constipation

You can take medication to improve your thyroid’s hormone production.

Advanced age

You may have a lower body temperature as you age. You may have less body fat in your arms and legs, dry skin, and a slowed metabolism as you get older. These can all contribute to a lower body temperature.

Medications

Taking certain medications could lower your temperature. These include beta-blockers and some antipsychotics.

Exposure to cold temperatures

Your temperature may be low if you have been outside in cold weather. Wear warm enough clothes and keep your head covered in cold weather. Avoid getting wet in cold weather.

Keeping babies in a normal temperature range is very important to avoid hypothermia or other illnesses. Some factors that could influence a baby’s temperature include:

• low birth weight
• prematurity
• their birth environment being too cold
• hypoglycemia
• infection

Take your baby’s temperature using the same method every time. Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature, and let the infant warm up if they have been brought in from the cold.

The best temperature-taking methods for infants and toddlers are:

• In the armpit. Place the thermometer in the middle of the armpit, and close the arm against the body. Wait 3 minutes for an accurate measurement, or follow the thermometer’s instructions.
• In the rectum. Put a protective sleeve over the thermometer and add a lubricant to it. Insert the tip of the thermometer in the rectum (no more than 2 centimeters) and wait 5 seconds before pulling it out and reading it, or follow the thermometer’s instructions.
• In the eardrum (for infants more than 3 months old). Place the thermometer into the ear, seal off the ear, and turn on the thermometer. Pull it out when the thermometer indicates it’s taken the reading.
• Contactless forehead: Some thermometers allow you to take a child’s temperature without contact. The thermometer and forehead must be movement-free to get an accurate reading. Press the temperature button. Your device will beep or flash to let you know the temperature is ready to be read.

Learn more about contactless thermometers here.

Call a healthcare professional if your temperature is 96°F (35.55°C) and you feel sick. You can describe your symptoms over the phone. They may offer a diagnosis or ask you to make an office visit.

You need immediate medical treatment if your temperature drops due to hypothermia or sepsis. Seek care if your temperature is declining and you have:

• breathing difficulty
• slowed speech
• confusion or other mental changes
• tiredness
• blue skin or lips

Infants with a low body temperature should be seen by a doctor immediately. Other symptoms of hypothermia in infants include red or discolored and cold skin, sleepiness, and disinterest in feeding.

Below are commonly asked questions regarding a low body temperature.

What causes a low temperature of 96F?

There are many different causes of low body temperature, including:

• incorrect temperature taking
• advanced age
• cold exposure or hypothermia
• certain health conditions

What does it mean when you have a low temperature?

Having a low body temperature can mean different things depending on its cause. It may mean that you have taken a temperature reading wrong or your living environment is too cold. A low temperature can also indicate an underlying health condition.

What illness causes low temperature?

Certain health conditions may cause a drop in body temperature, including hypothermia, hyperthyroidism, and sepsis.

What should I do if my body temperature is low?

If your body temperature is low, you should move to a warm, sheltered location as soon as possible and retake a temperature reading. If a low body temperature accompanies other symptoms such as breathing difficulty or skin changes, you should seek medical assistance.

There are several reasons you feel ill and have a thermometer reading of 96°F (35.55°C). You may have a serious illness like hypothermia or sepsis that requires immediate attention. You may have taken your temperature incorrectly. Or you may have another underlying factor contributing to the lower temperature like advanced age, medication use, or hypothyroidism.

reason and what to do? Low body temperature

There is no such person who would not measure the temperature of his body at least once in his life. And it is right. After all, temperature is a complex indicator of the thermal state of the entire human body.

There is an opinion that a temperature of 36.6 is normal for a person. However, this is not a completely correct statement. Indeed, this temperature is the most optimal for biochemical processes occurring in the body. But each person is individual, so it is possible to consider a normal temperature from 36 to 37.4 ° C.

The body temperature of one person can change throughout the day. The lowest temperature is observed around 6 o’clock in the morning, and the maximum value is reached in the evening. The difference between body temperature early in the morning and in the evening reaches 0.5 – 1.0 °C. However, this does not depend on human activity, the temperature follows the daily cycle of the Sun. Thus, people who work at night and sleep during the day show the same temperature cycle as the rest.

Temperature is also affected by gender and age. In girls, body temperature stabilizes by the age of 13-14, and in boys – by 18 years. The average body temperature of men is about 0.5 – 0.7 °C lower than that of women. Temperature readings in women are affected by the phases of the menstrual cycle.

Temperature differences between internal organs were revealed. The highest temperature of the liver (39 ° C), slightly lower – the temperature of the stomach, kidneys and other internal organs.

Why is the temperature rising?

As a rule, the temperature rises with the onset of the disease, as indicated by other symptoms of the presence of the disease. An elevated temperature is considered to be from 37.5 ° C to 42 ° C. With an increase in body temperature for every degree Celsius above 37 ° C, the frequency of respiratory movements increases by 4 breaths, and the pulse also increases. With an increase in body temperature, it is necessary to call a doctor to find out the possible cause of hyperthermia. An increase in temperature above 41 ° C is a reason for immediate hospitalization. The critical body temperature is considered to be 42 ° C, when it occurs a metabolic disorder in the brain tissues.

Why is the temperature dropping?

Sometimes the body temperature drops. This may indicate an existing or developing disease inside the body. Low body temperature is considered to be a temperature equal to 35.5 ° C and below. The main reason for low temperatures is hypothermia. However, if such a temperature persists for a long time, then this may indicate various diseases or a period of their exacerbation. Only a doctor can identify the true cause and prescribe treatment. A decrease in body temperature to 32 ° C causes chills, but does not pose a very serious danger. Temperatures below 25 ° C are critical, but some people manage to survive at such temperatures.

Constantly elevated temperature

Sometimes a person has a constant or intermittent fever up to 37.5 ° C without any other symptoms of the disease. This temperature is called subfebrile. Due to the fact that very often low-grade fever is within the physiological norm and there are no other symptoms except for the “elevated” temperature, determining the causes of this condition is extremely difficult and time-consuming.

Usually, a number of examinations are required to determine the causes of subfebrile temperature. A patient with subfebrile temperature should contact a therapist who will draw up an individual examination plan.

How to measure temperature correctly

The temperature is measured 2 times a day – in the morning, on an empty stomach and in the evening, before the last meal, in some cases every 2-3 hours.

There are several ways to measure temperature:

In the armpit. To get the most accurate result, the armpit must be dry. Measurements are made in a calm state 1 hour after any physical activity. It is not recommended to take hot drinks before the measurement. This method is considered the least accurate because there are many sweat glands in the armpit that can affect the final result.

In the mouth. When measuring the temperature in the oral cavity, it is necessary to refrain from eating and drinking, as well as from smoking 1 hour before the measurement. With this method of measuring temperature, the results can be affected by respiratory rate, recent intake of hot or cold liquids, breathing through the mouth, etc.

In the rectum. As a rule, rectal temperature is 0.3-0.6 ° C higher than the temperature in the oral cavity, that is, a temperature of 37 ° C should be considered the norm. After a lot of physical activity or after a hot bath, the rectal temperature may rise by 2 degrees or more.

In the ear canal. This method is considered the most accurate (provided that a special thermometer is used). However, non-compliance with the rules for measuring temperature in the ear canal (which is often the case when measuring at home) can lead to erroneous results.

We also recommend reading:

– The temperature has risen for no reason: what to do?

– Hormone therapy: what you need to know?

– I have 36.5 again

– Cortisol: why do we need it?

– Who is a therapist?

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Article author Natalya Gorshkova

Specialist comment

General practitioner, chief physician of the Medical Center Dialine Dzerzhinsky district Anna Tsybulina:

“It is necessary to consult a doctor if the body temperature is above 37 °C or below 35.5 °C. Temperature can occur against the background of disruption of the nervous, endocrine or cardiovascular systems, and is also caused by chronic infections, parasite infestations, incl. worms, cancer. Only a doctor can determine the cause of such a temperature. At the appointment, the doctor can prescribe blood, urine, feces, cultures, if necessary, ECG, ultrasound, X-ray studies, according to indications – endoscopic examination of the stomach and intestines, tomography and other studies.

However, when the body temperature is above 39.5 or below 32, and also at any temperature, if the patient’s condition is severe, there is a danger of complications or danger to life, an ambulance should be urgently called.

Low body temperature causes – Treatment of low temperature in ON CLINIC Ryazan, price

Such a symptom of various diseases as low body temperature is much less common than elevated. Nevertheless, many people have encountered this and felt pronounced discomfort, because a low temperature in a child and an adult is manifested by the following unpleasant symptoms:

• severe malaise, weakness, lethargy and drowsiness;
• “flies” before the eyes, dizziness;
• increased chilliness;
• decreased concentration and performance.

A decrease in body temperature by several degrees can lead to numerous dysfunctions of internal organs and lead to such serious consequences as disability and even death. In any case, even if for a long time the patient’s body temperature is lowered to 35 ° C, then it is possible to declare with absolute certainty the presence of a serious pathology in his body.

In an average person, body temperature can spontaneously change during the day. In this case, fluctuations within 1 ° C are a kind of norm. In addition, there are reasons for lowering body temperature, such as:

• decrease in the body’s immune defenses;
• beriberi;
• previous surgical interventions;
• anorexia;
• chronic intoxication of the body;
• AIDS;
• hypothyroidism;
• prolonged exposure to stress;
• all kinds of infectious diseases;
• pregnancy;
• change of phases of the menstrual cycle in women, etc.

Be that as it may, a low temperature in a child or an adult is in itself a symptom rather than a pathology. If it does not normalize for several days, then this is the basis for contacting a doctor. In ON CLINIC in Ryazan, a patient’s low temperature is a signal for the doctor that it is necessary to send him for an examination, which may include:

• complete blood count and blood for hormones;
• ultrasound;
• consultations with specialists of various profiles – gastroenterologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, oncologist, etc.

However, do not give in to panic: in many cases, eliminating a stressful factor from the patient’s life, as well as adjusting his diet and daily routine, helps to achieve normalization of temperature. Reception according to the scheme prescribed by the attending physician of immunomodulators and multivitamins will help not only to increase the patient’s body temperature to normal values, but also bring him into tone and increase his efficiency.