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.

How to reduce the temperature of an adult and a child?

1. Outpatient medical care includes all types of outpatient care permitted on an outpatient basis, for children, adolescents:

1.1. Preventive examinations of children and adolescents upon admission to preschool, secondary and higher educational institutions.
1.2. Preventive medical examinations of children and adolescents under 18 years of age attending educational institutions.
1.3. Carrying out by outpatient clinics according to the territorial production principle (with the exception of the purchase of immunobiological preparations) for children, adolescents, adults, vaccinations included in the national calendar of preventive vaccinations, in accordance with federal laws of September 17 1998 No. 157-FZ “On the immunoprophylaxis of infectious diseases”, dated March 30, 1999 No. 52-FZ “On the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population”, order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated June 27, 2001 No. 229 “On the national calendar of preventive vaccinations and calendar of preventive vaccinations according to epidemic indications”, Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation of January 11, 2007 No. 14 “On Amendments to the Order of the Ministry of Health of Russia of June 27, 2001 No. 229“On the national calendar of preventive vaccinations and the calendar of preventive vaccinations for epidemic indications” and approval of the reporting form No. 68 “Information on the contingents of children and adults additionally immunized against hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, influenza, rubella, and on the movement of vaccines for immunization”.
1.4. Carrying out vaccinations in accordance with Order No. 141 of the Ministry of Health of the USSR of April 9, 1990 “On further improvement of measures for the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis”, orders of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation of October 07, 1997 No. 297 “On improving measures to prevent rabies in humans” (with the exception of the purchase of immunobiological preparations), dated May 17, 1999 No. 174 “On measures to further improve the prevention of tetanus”.
1.5. Dispensary observation of patients, including certain categories of citizens who have the right to receive a set of social services; persons exposed to radiation; pregnant women, women in labor; healthy and sick children and adolescents; recovered from infectious diseases.
1.6. Dynamic medical monitoring of the growth and development of the child.
1.7. Fluorographic examination in the manner prescribed by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated December 25, 2001 No. 892 “On the implementation of the Federal Law “On the Prevention of the Spread of Tuberculosis in the Russian Federation”.
1.8. Provision of emergency medical care, diagnosis, treatment of 90,005 patients with acute diseases, injuries, poisoning, exacerbation of chronic diseases.
1.9. Consultations of specialists in the direction of the attending physician of the outpatient clinic.
1.10. Treatment in the day hospital of patients with acute and chronic diseases.
1.11. Treatment in hospitals at home for patients with acute and chronic diseases, whose condition does not require round-the-clock monitoring in hospitals.
1.12. Rehabilitation treatment as directed by a doctor.
1.13. Preparation of documents for referral for examination of patients to the Bureau of Medical and Social Expertise to determine permanent disability and an individual rehabilitation program; paperwork for the provision of high-tech medical care.
1.14. Conducting clinical observation and diagnostic examinations of contact patients in the foci of infectious diseases.
1.15. Medical advice on determining the professional suitability of minors in the manner and on the terms determined by this Program in accordance with the Fundamentals of the Legislation of the Russian Federation on the protection of the health of citizens dated July 22, 1993 No. 5487-1.
1.16. Registration of documents for referral to sanatorium-resort treatment of citizens.
1. 17. Medical examination of citizens (according to the list of diseases and types of medical care within the framework of the basic program of compulsory medical insurance) as directed by the medical commissions of military commissariats based on the results of a medical examination in accordance with Article 5.1 of the Federal Law of March 28, 1998 No. 53-FZ “On military duty and military service” and Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated February 25, 2003 No. 123 “On Approval of the Regulations on Military Medical Expertise”.
1.18. Conducting a comprehensive laboratory study of adolescents 15-18 years old with a referral from a pediatrician of an educational institution to create a reproductive health passport.

low body temperature, what to do

With a high temperature, everything is quite simple – we know from childhood that if the thermometer reads 38, it is most likely SARS. But what to do if you have a low body temperature? There are several interesting reasons for this phenomenon.

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What is considered a low temperature

The ideal temperature is 36.6. How to quickly bring down the temperature at home, we have already told you.

Sometimes it happens that the body temperature is below 36 degrees. But the spread from 35.5 to 37 degrees is also considered normal. Of course, for some, 37 degrees is already a symptom of a cold. But in general, it is this interval that is healthy, if you do not feel weak or chilly.

But if the thermometer shows less than 35.5, this is already abnormal. Low body temperature in an adult can lead to a crisis. When it drops to 30 degrees, a person loses consciousness – in this case there is a serious danger to life.

Low body temperature: what diseases cause it

34.5 degrees can also be a dangerous symptom of some diseases. This condition is called hypothermia. So, why can a low body temperature be on your thermometer?

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Low body temperature: causes

Stress. When there is a low body temperature, you need to find the reasons. Yes, it is quite possible that you are just very tired at work. In this case, low body temperature of a person is accompanied by a feeling of general weakness and apathy. In order for the signs of fatigue to pass, you need to sleep and take a day off. Or better yet, a vacation.

Exacerbation of chronic diseases. Body temperature below 36 is a signal that it’s time to take your health seriously, especially if you already know about some problems. Why a low body temperature appears will help the doctor find out. Do not delay the visit to your therapist.

Pregnancy. 35 on a thermometer may be one of the non-obvious signs of pregnancy. It’s time to buy a test! A woman’s low body temperature may indicate a long-awaited event. It can be observed in the earliest stages of pregnancy. The gynecologist will explain to you that this is normal.

Causes when the body temperature is below 36 degrees can be a change in blood glucose levels, iron deficiency, malnutrition, hormonal disruptions.

Fluctuations in the menstrual cycle. During the day, the temperature can vary within one degree, especially if you are now menstruating. So just check the thermometer a day later – most likely, it will show the numbers that are usual for you. Either high or low body temperature is considered normal by doctors if you have critical days.

What to do when you have a low body temperature

In most cases, a low temperature is due to fatigue and decreased immunity. Quality rest, good sleep, vitamins and a balanced diet will quickly bring the situation back to normal. People with low body temperature may experience, they are called cold. Even in summer, they can wear a warm jacket with long sleeves.

Recent studies by scientists have found that people with a low body temperature – about 35.5 in an adult, age more slowly and live longer.

But among the causes of body temperature below 36 can be serious diseases, such as kidney and adrenal disease, thyroid dysfunction, anorexia, AIDS, and more. Therefore, if it has not risen to the normal level of 36.6 degrees Celsius after a couple of days, be sure to consult a doctor. Body temperature below 35 can be a pronounced sign of certain diseases.

By the way, for some, low body temperature is the norm. There are people whose thermometer shows 35.8 all their lives, for example. This is not a signal for any diseases, it is just an individual feature. But if for several days you see less than 35 degrees on the thermometer, this is a bad sign, indicating the development of the disease. Low body temperature, or hypothermia, is a signal for a visit to the doctor.

Low body temperature due to coronavirus

During a pandemic, a temperature below 36 degrees can be considered as one of the symptoms of Covid-19.