What is considered a dangerous body temperature. How can you distinguish between high and low grade fevers. What are the most effective methods for reducing a fever. When should you seek medical attention for a fever.

Understanding Body Temperature and Fever

A fever is a temporary elevation in body temperature, often signaling that the body is fighting an infection or illness. While the average normal body temperature is typically considered to be 98.6°F (37°C), it’s important to note that normal temperatures can vary slightly from person to person and throughout the day.

What constitutes a fever? Generally, a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) is considered a fever in adults. However, the severity and implications of a fever can vary depending on age and other factors.

Types of Fevers

• Low-grade fever: 100.4°F to 102.2°F (38°C to 39°C)
• Moderate-grade fever: 102.2°F to 104°F (39°C to 40°C)
• High-grade fever: Above 104°F (40°C)

Recognizing Fever Symptoms

How can you tell if you have a fever beyond just feeling warm? Fever often comes with a constellation of symptoms that can help you identify it:

• Sweating
• Chills and shivering
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Irritability
• Dehydration
• General weakness

In children between 6 months and 5 years, febrile seizures may occur. These can be frightening but are generally not harmful. About one-third of children who experience a febrile seizure will have another, typically within the next 12 months.

Measuring Body Temperature Accurately

How can you accurately measure body temperature? Several types of thermometers are available, each with its own pros and cons:

1. Oral thermometers: Provide accurate readings when used correctly
2. Rectal thermometers: Considered the most accurate, especially for infants
3. Ear (tympanic) thermometers: Convenient but less accurate
4. Forehead (temporal artery) thermometers: Easy to use but may be less precise

When reporting a temperature to a healthcare provider, always specify the method used for measurement.

When Does Body Temperature Become Dangerous?

At what point does a fever become a cause for concern? The answer varies depending on age and other factors:

For Infants

• Under 3 months: Rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher requires immediate medical attention
• 3-6 months: Rectal temperature up to 102°F (38.9°C) with signs of distress, or higher than 102°F regardless of symptoms
• 6-24 months: Rectal temperature above 102°F (38.9°C) lasting more than a day without other symptoms

For Children

Seek medical advice if your child:

• Is listless or irritable
• Has severe headache or stomachache
• Has a fever lasting more than three days
• Appears unresponsive or has poor eye contact

For Adults

Call a doctor if your temperature reaches 103°F (39.4°C) or higher, especially if accompanied by:

• Severe headache
• Unusual skin rash
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Stiff neck
• Mental confusion
• Persistent vomiting
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Abdominal pain or pain when urinating
• Convulsions or seizures

Understanding the Mechanism of Fever

What causes our body temperature to rise during a fever? The process begins in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus, often referred to as the body’s thermostat. During a fever, the hypothalamus shifts the set point of normal body temperature upward.

This shift can lead to feeling chilled, causing you to seek warmth or shiver to generate heat. As a result, your body temperature rises to match the new set point.

The Role of Fever in Fighting Infections

Is a fever always bad? Surprisingly, fever can play a crucial role in helping your body combat infections. Here’s how:

• Increased body temperature can inhibit the growth of some bacteria and viruses
• Fever stimulates the immune system, promoting the production of white blood cells and antibodies
• Higher temperatures can speed up cellular processes, potentially accelerating healing

Given these benefits, it’s not always necessary or beneficial to treat a mild fever, especially if it’s not causing significant discomfort.

Effective Methods for Reducing Fever

When should you try to lower a fever, and how can you do it effectively? If a fever is causing discomfort or is dangerously high, several methods can help reduce it:

Non-Medicinal Approaches

• Rest: Allow your body to focus energy on fighting the infection
• Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
• Cool compress: Apply a damp, lukewarm cloth to the forehead
• Light clothing: Wear breathable, lightweight clothing
• Cool environment: Keep the room temperature comfortable, not too warm

Over-the-Counter Medications

What medications can help reduce fever?

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Effective for both adults and children
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin): Suitable for individuals over 6 months old
• Aspirin: Not recommended for children due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome

Always follow dosage instructions carefully and consult a healthcare provider before giving medication to infants or young children.

Preventing the Spread of Fever-Causing Infections

How can you protect yourself and others from infections that cause fever? Implement these preventive measures:

• Practice good hand hygiene: Wash hands frequently with soap and water
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• Avoid close contact with people who are ill
• Stay home when you’re sick to prevent spreading infections
• Keep vaccinations up to date
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle to support your immune system

By understanding fevers, knowing when to seek medical attention, and implementing appropriate care strategies, you can effectively manage this common body response to infection and illness.

Remember, while fevers can be concerning, they are often a sign that your body is actively fighting off an infection. However, always trust your instincts and seek medical advice if you’re unsure or concerned about a fever’s severity or duration.

Fevers, though uncomfortable, are typically not dangerous for adults unless they reach very high levels or are accompanied by other severe symptoms. For children and infants, it’s crucial to monitor fevers closely and seek medical advice when necessary.

By staying informed about the causes, symptoms, and management of fevers, you can approach this common health issue with confidence and make informed decisions about when to treat at home and when to seek professional medical care.

As research in medicine continues to advance, our understanding of fevers and their role in the body’s defense mechanisms may evolve. Stay informed by keeping up with reputable health sources and always consult with healthcare professionals for personalized advice.

Fever – Symptoms and causes

Overview

A fever is a temporary increase in your body temperature, often due to an illness. Having a fever is a sign that something out of the ordinary is going on in your body.

For an adult, a fever may be uncomfortable, but usually isn’t a cause for concern unless it reaches 103 F (39.4 C) or higher. For infants and toddlers, a slightly elevated temperature may indicate a serious infection.

Fevers generally go away within a few days. A number of over-the-counter medications lower a fever, but sometimes it’s better left untreated. Fever seems to play a key role in helping your body fight off a number of infections.

Symptoms

You have a fever when your temperature rises above its normal range. What’s normal for you may be a little higher or lower than the average normal temperature of 98.6 F (37 C).

Depending on what’s causing your fever, additional fever signs and symptoms may include:

• Sweating
• Chills and shivering
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Irritability
• Dehydration
• General weakness

Children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years might experience febrile seizures. About a third of the children who have one febrile seizure will have another one, most commonly within the next 12 months.

Taking a temperature

To take a temperature, you can choose from several types of thermometers, including oral, rectal, ear (tympanic) and forehead (temporal artery) thermometers.

Oral and rectal thermometers generally provide the most accurate measurement of core body temperature. Ear or forehead thermometers, although convenient, provide less accurate temperature measurements.

In infants, doctors generally recommend taking a temperature with a rectal thermometer.

When reporting a temperature to your or your child’s doctor, give the reading and explain how the temperature was taken.

When to see a doctor

Fevers by themselves may not be a cause for alarm — or a reason to call a doctor. Yet there are some circumstances when you should seek medical advice for your baby, your child or yourself.

Infants

An unexplained fever is greater cause for concern in infants and in children than in adults. Call your baby’s doctor if your child is:

• Younger than age 3 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher.
• Between ages 3 and 6 months and has a rectal temperature up to 102 F (38.9 C) and seems unusually irritable, lethargic or uncomfortable or has a temperature higher than 102 F (38.9 C).
• Between ages 6 and 24 months and has a rectal temperature higher than 102 F (38.9 C) that lasts longer than one day but shows no other symptoms. If your child also has other signs and symptoms, such as a cold, cough or diarrhea, you might call your child’s doctor sooner based on severity.

Children

There’s probably no cause for alarm if your child has a fever but is responsive — making eye contact with you and responding to your facial expressions and to your voice — and is drinking fluids and playing.

Call your child’s doctor if your child:

• Is listless or irritable, vomits repeatedly, has a severe headache or stomachache, or has any other symptoms causing significant discomfort.
• Has a fever after being left in a hot car. Seek medical care immediately.
• Has a fever that lasts longer than three days.
• Appears listless and has poor eye contact with you.

Ask your child’s doctor for guidance in special circumstances, such as a child with immune system problems or with a pre-existing illness.

Adults

Call your doctor if your temperature is 103 F (39.4 C) or higher. Seek immediate medical attention if any of these signs or symptoms accompanies a fever:

• Severe headache
• Unusual skin rash, especially if the rash rapidly worsens
• Unusual sensitivity to bright light
• Stiff neck and pain when you bend your head forward
• Mental confusion
• Persistent vomiting
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Abdominal pain or pain when urinating
• Convulsions or seizures

Causes

Fever occurs when an area in your brain called the hypothalamus (hi-poe-THAL-uh-muhs) — also known as your body’s “thermostat” — shifts the set point of your normal body temperature upward. When this happens, you may feel chilled and add layers of clothing or wrap up in a blanket, or you may shiver to generate more body heat, eventually resulting in an elevated body temperature.

Normal body temperature varies throughout the day — it’s lower in the morning and higher in the late afternoon and evening. Although most people consider 98.6 F (37 C) normal, your body temperature can vary by a degree or more — from about 97 F (36.1 C) to 99 F (37.2 C) — and still be considered normal.

Fever or elevated body temperature might be caused by:

• A virus
• A bacterial infection
• Heat exhaustion
• Certain inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis — inflammation of the lining of your joints (synovium)
• A malignant tumor
• Some medications, such as antibiotics and drugs used to treat high blood pressure or seizures
• Some immunizations, such as the diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) or pneumococcal vaccine

Sometimes the cause of a fever can’t be identified. If you have a fever for more than three weeks and your doctor isn’t able to find the cause after extensive evaluation, the diagnosis may be fever of unknown origin.

Complications

Children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years may experience fever-induced convulsions (febrile seizures), which usually involve loss of consciousness and shaking of limbs on both sides of the body. Although alarming for parents, the vast majority of febrile seizures cause no lasting effects.

If a seizure occurs:

• Lay your child on his or her side or stomach on the floor or ground
• Remove any sharp objects that are near your child
• Loosen tight clothing
• Hold your child to prevent injury
• Don’t place anything in your child’s mouth or try to stop the seizure

Most seizures stop on their own. Take your child to the doctor as soon as possible after the seizure to determine the cause of the fever.

Call for emergency medical assistance if a seizure lasts longer than five minutes.

Prevention

You may be able to prevent fevers by reducing exposure to infectious diseases. Here are some tips that can help:

• Wash your hands often and teach your children to do the same, especially before eating, after using the toilet, after spending time in a crowd or around someone who’s sick, after petting animals, and during travel on public transportation.
• Show your children how to wash their hands thoroughly, covering both the front and back of each hand with soap and rinsing completely under running water.
• Carry hand sanitizer with you for times when you don’t have access to soap and water.
• Try to avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes, as these are the main ways that viruses and bacteria can enter your body and cause infection.
• Cover your mouth when you cough and your nose when you sneeze, and teach your children to do likewise. Whenever possible, turn away from others when coughing or sneezing to avoid passing germs along to them.
• Avoid sharing cups, water bottles and utensils with your child or children.

Fever – Myths Versus Facts

Many parents have false beliefs (myths) about fever. They think fever will hurt their child. They worry and lose sleep when their child has a fever. This is called fever phobia. In fact, fevers are harmless and often helpful. Let these facts help you better understand fever.

MYTH. My child feels warm, so she has a fever.

FACT. Children can feel warm for a many reasons. Examples are playing hard, crying, getting out of a warm bed or hot weather. They are “giving off heat.” Their skin temperature should return to normal in about 20 minutes. About 80% of children who act sick and feel warm do have a fever. If you want to be sure, take the temperature. These are the cutoffs for fever using different types of thermometers:

• Rectal (bottom), ear or forehead temperature: 100.4° F (38.0° C) or higher
• Oral (mouth) temperature: 100° F (37.8° C) or higher
• Under the arm (Armpit) temperature: 99° F (37.2° C) or higher

MYTH. All fevers are bad for children.

FACT. Fevers turn on the body’s immune system. They help the body fight infection. Normal fevers between 100° and 104° F (37.8° – 40° C) are good for sick children.

MYTH. Fevers above 104° F (40° C) are dangerous. They can cause brain damage.

FACT. Fevers with infections don’t cause brain damage. Only temperatures above 108° F (42° C) can cause brain damage. It’s very rare for the body temperature to climb this high. It only happens if the air temperature is very high. An example is a child left in a closed car during hot weather.

MYTH. Anyone can have a seizure triggered by fever.

FACT. Only 4% of children can have a seizure with fever.

MYTH. Seizures with fever are harmful.

FACT. These seizures are scary to watch, but they stop within 5 minutes. They don’t cause any permanent harm. They don’t increase the risk for speech delays, learning problems, or seizures without fever.

MYTH. All fevers need to be treated with fever medicine.

FACT. Fevers only need to be treated if they cause discomfort (makes your child feel bad). Most fevers don’t cause discomfort until they go above 102° or 103° F (39° or 39.5° C).

MYTH. Without treatment, fevers will keep going higher.

FACT. Wrong, because the brain knows when the body is too hot. Most fevers from infection don’t go above 103° or 104° F (39.5°- 40° C). They rarely go to 105° or 106° F (40.6° or 41.1° C). While these are “high” fevers, they also are harmless ones.

MYTH. With treatment, fevers should come down to normal.

FACT. With treatment, most fevers come down 2° or 3° F (1° or 1.5° C).

MYTH. If you can’t “break the fever”, the cause is serious.

FACT. Fevers that don’t come down to normal can be caused by viruses or bacteria. The response to fever medicines tells us nothing about the cause of the infection.

MYTH. Once the fever comes down with medicines, it should stay down.

FACT. It’s normal for fevers with most viral infections to last for 2 or 3 days. When the fever medicine wears off, the fever will come back. It may need to be treated again. The fever will go away and not return once the body overpowers the virus. Most often, this is day 3 or 4.

MYTH. If the fever is high, the cause is serious.

FACT. If the fever is high, the cause may or may not be serious. If your child looks very sick, the cause is more likely to be serious.

MYTH. The exact number of the temperature is very important.

FACT. How your child looks and acts is what’s important. The exact temperature number is not.

MYTH. Oral temperatures between 98.7° and 100° F (37.1° to 37.8° C) are low-grade fevers.

FACT. These temperatures are normal. The body’s normal temperature changes throughout the day. It peaks in the late afternoon and evening. A true low-grade fever is 100° F to 102° F (37.8° – 39° C) .

SUMMARY. Keep in mind that fever is fighting off your child’s infection. Fever is one of the good guys.

Seattle Children’s Urgent Care Locations

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Last Reviewed: 05/30/2021

Last Revised: 03/11/2021

Copyright 2000-2021 Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

What is Normal Body Temperature? Low vs. High, Normal Range

Your body’s like a little furnace. It puts out heat all the time. It comes from your body doing the work that keeps you alive. When it puts out a lot more or a lot less heat than usual, it’s trying to tell you there’s a problem.

Normal Range

Not everyone’s “normal” body temperature is the same. Yours could be a whole degree different than someone else’s. A German doctor in the 19^th century set the standard at 98.6 F, but more recent studies say the baseline for most people is closer to 98. 2 F.

For a typical adult, body temperature can be anywhere from 97 F to 99 F. Babies and children have a little higher range: 97.9 F to 100.4 F.

Your temperature doesn’t stay the same all day, and it will vary throughout your lifetime, too. Some things that cause your temperature to move around during the day include:

• How active you are
• What time of day it is
• Your age
• Your sex
• What you’ve eaten or had to drink
• Where you are in your menstrual cycle

Your temperature reading changes based on where on your body you measure it. Underarm readings can be a degree lower than what you’d find from your mouth. Rectal temperatures usually are up to a degree higher than mouth readings.

A body temperature higher than your normal range is a fever. It’s hypothermia when the body temperature dips too low. Both need to be watched.

Fever

How high is too high when it comes to your temperature? Anything above 100. 4 F is considered a fever. You may feel terrible, but on the whole, a fever isn’t bad for you. It’s a sign your body is doing what it should when germs invade. It’s fighting them off.

However, if your temperature is 103 F or higher or if you’ve had a fever for more than 3 days, call your doctor. Also call if you have a fever with symptoms like severe throat swelling, vomiting, headache, chest pain, stiff neck or rash.

For children, fevers are a bit more complicated. Call your pediatrician if your child is:

• Under 3 months and has a rectal temperatures of 100.4 F or higher
• Between 3 months and 3 years and has a rectal temperature over 102 F
• Older than 3 years and has an oral temperatures above 103 F
• Between 3 and 6 months and — along with a fever — is fussier or more uncomfortable than usual, or doesn’t seem alert
• Sick enough for you to be concerned, regardless of what the thermometer says

Hypothermia

If your body loses too much heat, it can be very serious, even fatal. Hypothermia is when your body temperature goes below 95 F. You might think of hypothermia as something that only happens when you’re exposed to extremely cold weather for a long time. But it happens indoors, too.

Hypothermia is a special concern for newborns and the elderly.

Babies may not be good at regulating their temperature. They can lose heat quickly. It’s important to keep them warm. A temperature below 97 F is considered too low for babies.

Older adults can also struggle to keep their body temperature in a normal range if they’re somewhere with intense air conditioning or there’s not enough heat.

For both the elderly and young children, a below-normal body temperature can be a sign they’re sick.

Other things can also make you more likely to get hypothermia. They include:

Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What Is Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is a potentially dangerous drop in body temperature, usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. The risk of cold exposure increases as the winter months arrive. But if you’re exposed to cold temperatures on a spring hike or capsized on a summer sail, you can also be at risk of hypothermia.

Normal body temperature averages 98.6 degrees. With hypothermia, core temperature drops below 95 degrees. In severe hypothermia, core body temperature can drop to 82 degrees or lower.

How Does Cold Exposure Cause Hypothermia?

During exposure to cold temperatures, most heat loss — up to 90% — escapes through your skin; the rest, you exhale from your lungs. Heat loss through the skin happens primarily through radiation and speeds up when skin is exposed to wind or moisture. If cold exposure is due to being immersed in cold water, heat loss can occur 25 times faster than it would if exposed to the same air temperature.

The hypothalamus, the brain’s temperature-control center, works to raise body temperature by triggering processes that heat and cool the body. During cold temperature exposure, shivering is a protective response to produce heat through muscle activity. In another heat-preserving response — called vasoconstriction — blood vessels temporarily narrow.

Normally, the activity of the heart and liver produce most of your body heat. But as core body temperature cools, these organs produce less heat, in essence causing a protective “shut down” to preserve heat and protect the brain. Low body temperature can slow brain activity, breathing, and heart rate.

Confusion and fatigue can set in, hampering a person’s ability to understand what’s happening and make intelligent choices to get to safety.

What Are the Symptoms of Hypothermia?

Hypothermia symptoms for adults include:

• Shivering, which may stop as hypothermia progresses (shivering is actually a good sign that a person’s heat regulation systems are still active. )
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Confusion and memory loss
• Drowsiness or exhaustion
• Slurred or mumbled speech
• Loss of coordination, fumbling hands, stumbling steps
• A slow, weak pulse
• In severe hypothermia, a person may be unconscious without obvious signs of breathing or a pulse

Hypothermia symptoms for infants include:

• Cold-to-touch, bright red skin
• Unusually low energy

What Causes Hypothermia?

Possible causes of hypothermia include:

Cold exposure. When the balance between the body’s heat production and heat loss tips toward heat loss for a prolonged period, hypothermia can occur. Accidental hypothermia usually happens after cold temperature exposure without enough warm, dry clothing for protection. Mountain climbers on Mount Everest avoid hypothermia by wearing specialized, high-tech gear designed for that windy, icy environment.

However, much milder environments can also lead to hypothermia, depending on a person’s age, body mass, body fat, overall health, and length of time exposed to cold temperatures. A frail, older adult in a 60-degree house after a power outage can develop mild hypothermia overnight. Infants and babies sleeping in cold bedrooms are also at risk.

Other causes. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes and thyroid conditions, some medications, severe trauma, or using drugs or alcohol all increase the risk of hypothermia.

What Are the Risk Factors for Hypothermia?

People at increased risk for hypothermia include:

• The elderly, infants, and children without adequate heating, clothing, or food
• People with mental illness
• People who are outdoors for extended periods
• People in cold weather whose judgment is impaired by alcohol or drugs

How Is Hypothermia Diagnosed?

Recognizing the symptoms is the first step in diagnosing hypothermia. A specialized thermometer, available in most hospital emergency rooms, can detect very low core body temperatures and confirm a diagnosis.

Temperatures for mild, moderate, and severe hypothermia generally range from:

Mild hypothermia: 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit

Moderate hypothermia: 82-90 degrees Fahrenheit

Severe hypothermia: Lower than 82 degrees Fahrenheit

Because response to hypothermia varies among individuals, temperatures may differ.

What Is the Treatment for Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening condition that needs emergency medical attention.

If medical care isn’t immediately available:

• Remove any wet clothes, hats, gloves, shoes, and socks.
• Protect the person against wind, drafts, and further heat loss with warm, dry clothes and blankets.
• Move gently to a warm, dry shelter as soon as possible.
• Begin rewarming the person with extra clothing. Use warm blankets. Other helpful items for warming are: an electric blanket to the torso area and hot packs and heating pad on the torso, armpits, neck, and groin; however, these can cause burns to the skin. Use your own body heat if nothing else is available.
• Take the person’s temperature if a thermometer is available.
• Offer warm liquids, but avoid alcohol and caffeine, which speed up heat loss. Don’t try to give fluids to an unconscious person.

If the hypothermic person is unconscious, or has no pulse or signs of breathing, call for emergency help right away. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) should be given immediately if a pulse can’t be felt and there is no sign of breathing. Feel for the pulse for up to a whole minute before starting CPR, because the heart rate may be extremely slow and you should not start CPR if there is any heartbeat present.

CPR should be continued, in the absence of signs of breathing or a pulse, until paramedics arrive or the person is taken to a hospital.

In cases of advanced hypothermia, hospital treatment is required to rewarm the core temperature. Hypothermia treatment may include warmed IV fluids, heated and humidified oxygen, peritoneal lavage (internal “washing” of the abdominal cavity), and other measures. Complications during recovery can include pneumonia, heart arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation (a dangerous “fluttering” rhythm of the heart), cardiac arrest (a sudden stopping of the heartbeat), and death.

Seek immediate medical help for anyone with hypothermia. Call 911 if you suspect severe hypothermia.

Normal ranges in adults and children

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Normal body temperatures vary depending on many factors, including a person’s age, sex, and activity levels.

The normal body temperature for an adult is around 98.6°F (37°C), but every person’s baseline body temperature is slightly different, and may consistently be a little higher or lower.

In this article, we discuss the normal ranges of temperature for adults, children, and babies. We also consider factors affecting body temperature, and when to call a doctor.

Body temperature readings vary depending on where on the body a person takes the measurements. Rectal readings are higher than oral readings, while armpit readings tend to be lower.

The table below gives the normal ranges of body temperature for adults and children according to a thermometer manufacturer:

Type of reading	0–2 years	3–10 years	11–65 years	Over 65 years
Oral	95.9–99.5°F (35.5–37.5°C)	95.9–99.5°F (35.5–37.5°C)	97.6–99.6°F (36.4–37.6°C)	96.4–98.5°F (35.8–36.9°C)
Rectal	97.9–100.4°F (36.6–38°C)	97.9–100.4°F (36.6–38°C)	98.6–100. 6°F (37.0–38.1°C)	97.1–99.2°F (36.2–37.3°C)
Armpit	94.5–99.1°F (34.7–37.3°C)	96.6–98.0°F (35.9–36.7°C)	95.3–98.4°F (35.2–36.9°C)	96.0–97.4°F (35.6–36.3°C)
Ear	97.5–100.4°F (36.4–38°C)	97.0–100.0°F (36.1–37.8°C)	96.6–99.7°F (35.9–37.6°C)	96.4–99.5°F (35.8–37.5°C)

Normal body temperature readings will vary within these ranges depending on the following factors:

• a person’s age and sex
• the time of day, typically being lowest in the early morning and highest in the late afternoon
• high or low activity levels
• food and fluid intake
• for females, the stage in their monthly menstrual cycle
• the method of measurement, such as oral (mouth), rectal (bottom), or armpit readings

A normal adult body temperature, when taken orally, can range from 97.6–99.6°F, though different sources may give slightly different figures.

In adults, the following temperatures suggest that someone has a fever:

• at least 100.4°F (38°C) is a fever
• above 103.1°F (39.5°C) is a high fever
• above 105.8°F (41°C) is a very high fever

Researchers have looked into the individual differences between people’s normal body temperatures. A study looking at almost 35,500 people found that older adults had the lowest temperatures, and African-American women had higher temperatures than white men.

They also found that certain medical conditions can affect a person’s body temperature. For example, people with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) tended to have lower temperatures, while people with cancer had higher temperatures.

A normal body temperature for children aged 3–10 ranges from 95.9–99.5°F when taken orally.

Children tend to have similar body temperatures to adults.

Sometimes, babies and young children have higher body temperature ranges than adults for armpit and ear measurements.

A normal body temperature for infants aged 0–2 years ranges from 97.9–100.4°F when taken rectally. Body temperature may rise a little when a baby is teething.

The average body temperature of a newborn is 99.5°F.

A baby’s temperature is higher because they have a larger body surface area relative to their body weight. Their bodies are also more metabolically active, which generates heat.

Babies’ bodies do not regulate temperature as well as adults’ bodies. They sweat less when it is warm, meaning that their bodies retain more heat. It may also be more difficult for them to cool them down during a fever.

A dangerous body temperature depends on a person’s age:

Adults

A temperature of 100.4–104°F caused by short-term illnesses should not cause significant harm in otherwise healthy adults. However, a moderate fever can be more worrying for a person with existing heart or lung problems.

Call a doctor for temperatures above 104°F or lower than 95° F, especially if there are other warning signs, such as confusion, headaches, or shortness of breath. Temperatures of over 105.8°F can cause organ failure.

Doctors define hypothermia as a temperature dropping below 95°F. Hypothermia can be dangerous if not treated quickly.

Children

Children aged between 3 months and 3 years old who have a fever but a temperature of lower than 102°F do not always need medicine. Call your doctor if a child has a temperature of over 102.2°F, or has a lower temperature but is experiencing dehydration, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Babies

If an infant of 3 months or younger has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F or above, seek emergency medical attention. In very young babies, a slight fever can signal a serious infection.

There are many types of thermometers available, and the best method depends on a person’s age:

Follow the instructions on the thermometer package.

If a temperature reading is unusually high or low, take another reading after about 5 to 10 minutes. If someone is unsure the reading is correct, they can take another reading with a different thermometer.

An area of the brain called the hypothalamus regulates body temperature. If body temperature rises above or dips below the 98.6°F (37°C) mark, the hypothalamus kicks in to regulate the temperature.

If the body is too cold, the hypothalamus sends signals to make the body shiver, which warms the body up. If the body is too hot, it sends messages to begin sweating, which lets heat leave the body.

Infections cause most fevers. A fever develops as the body’s natural way of reacting to and fighting infection.

Doctors consider a fever to be a body temperature that reaches or exceeds 100.4°F. Other symptoms include:

• appetite loss
• chills
• a headache
• irritability
• muscle aches
• shivering
• sweating
• weakness

The ideal body temperature in adults is around 98. 6°F, but this varies based on age, sex, physical activity, and health. Body temperature changes throughout the day. A temperature of above 100.4°F signals a fever.

Babies may have higher body temperatures than adults, but even a slight fever in babies can signal a severe infection.

Temperature readings taken from different body parts give a range of body temperatures that doctors consider normal. Rectal readings are higher than oral readings, and armpit readings tend to be lower.

If a person has an unusually high or low temperature, they should seek medical attention immediately.

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When Is a Fever Too High?

High-grade fevers, called hyperpyrexia, involve temperatures above 103 degrees and can be dangerous. However, when gauging a fever’s danger in yourself or your child, it’s more complicated than just looking at a number—especially in children.

For most people, most of the time, a fever isn’t dangerous in terms of causing brain damage. This may go against what you’ve been taught to fear.

It helps to know what causes a fever, what the potential complications can be, and when to call your doctor or head to the emergency room. It’s also important to know what’s different about fevers in kids versus adults.

Why You Get Fevers

Usually, fevers are actually a good thing. They’re part of the natural way the body fights off infections.

A part of the brain called the hypothalamus acts as a thermostat for your body. Most of the time, it keeps body temperatures around 98.6 degrees (37 degrees Celsius). When you get sick, though, it raises the temperature to make it hard for germs to live and multiply.

That’s all well and good, unless the fever gets so high that it could start harming you.

Causes

A lot of things can cause high fevers. Some include low-grade fevers that become high-grade, such as:

• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Toxins
• Drugs

If a fever continues unchecked, or your body doesn’t respond to treatment, the fever may rise into the danger zone.

Verywell / Jiaqi Zhou

Some medical conditions that don’t involve low fevers are associated with high-grade fever. Some of these are:

• Intracranial hemorrhage
• Thyroid storm
• Serotonin syndrome
• Sepsis
• Kawasaki syndrome
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Heatstroke
• Drug overdose

Symptoms and Complications

As your fever rises, it may bring on new symptoms.

Low-grade fever (pyrexia) symptoms include:

• Chills
• Sweats
• Feeling hot
• Headache
• Eyes that are achy or tired
• Thirst
• Low appetite

Early high-grade fever (hyperpyrexia) symptoms may still include those from the list above, plus:

• Extreme sweating
• Dizziness and light-headedness
• Muscle cramps
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Nausea

Persistent or worsening high-grade fever can also cause:

• Contracted (small) pupils
• Mild confusion
• Cool, moist, pale skin
• Upset stomach or vomiting
• Decreased urine or inability to urinate

Longer-lasting high-grade fever or temperatures above 106. 1 F can lead to:

• Extreme confusion
• Hallucinations
• Loss of consciousness
• Shallow, rapid breathing
• Hot, dry, red skin
• Weak, fast heartbeat
• Dilated (large) pupils
• Seizures

Fevers over 106.1 F (41.2 C) need medical attention to prevent serious, long-term consequences—including brain damage and death.

Brain Damage and Death

While high fevers, especially those that are prolonged, can lead to brain damage and death, this is extremely rare.

According to a 2016 study, heatstroke is the most deadly heat-related illness, killing 58% or more of the people it affects. Among survivors, most make full recoveries, but some may have long-term organ damage.

Organs that can be damaged by prolonged hyperpyrexia include:

• Brain
• Heart and cardiovascular system
• Kidneys
• Liver
• Intestines

Proper treatment is the key to preventing severe complications of high-grade fevers.

Treatment

If someone has a fever but feels fine for the most part, treatment isn’t necessary. In fact, because the fever’s job is to kill infectious agents, treating a low-grade fever can interfere with the body’s efforts.

When it comes to children, a rule of thumb is that if they’re playing and have energy, there’s no immediate danger.

When fever-related symptoms are making you feel lousy or the temperature has crept up near that 103-104 F mark, an over-the-counter fever-reducing medication like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin/Advil (ibuprofen) can help you feel better.

The effects of these medications are only temporary, though. They work for 4 to 8 hours and then wear off, meaning your fever may come back and you’ll need to take more. This doesn’t mean something is wrong or that it didn’t work.

Children and teenagers should not be given aspirin for a fever due to the risk of Reye syndrome, a rare and serious illnesses that causes brain and liver damage.

Rest and plenty of liquids can help your body weather the fever (and underlying illness), as well.

Other home remedies may help, but you need to know which ones are safe and effective, and which ones are potentially harmful.

Treatment by Temperature

For most adults and older children, symptoms are a better indicator of when it’s a problem than the number on the thermometer. Still, it’s good to keep an eye on how high the fever gets.

With children under 3 years of age, and especially with babies, it pays to be more cautious and know what the exact temperature is.

Fever in very young children can be a sign that something serious is wrong, so it shouldn’t be ignored. Your pediatrician should have an on-call number so you can get advice at any time, or, in some cases, you may want to go straight to the emergency room.

Medical Care

If your fever is caused by an infection, it won’t go away until the infection is gone or at least improves. Depending on the specific pathogen, this may require medical treatment.

If your fever doesn’t go away or is accompanied by other symptoms that suggest illness, you should see a doctor.

If you rush to your doctor’s office, urgent care, or the ER for fever treatment, you can expect medications and testing to figure out what’s causing the elevated temperature.

A Word From Verywell

Adults are typically better able to determine when our symptoms are making us feel so bad that we need to seek medical treatment, but if you aren’t sure, evaluate what is going on. Learn how to check your cold and flu symptoms, evaluate a fever, and know the situations when you should see a doctor for a fever.

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When is body temperature too low?

On call

Q. I am 82 years old and in good health. At my regular doctor visits, my temperature has been around 96.5° F. Is that too low?

A. Normal body temperature is not a single number, but rather a range of temperatures. The average normal body temperature is most often said to be 98.6° F (37° C). This may have been correct when it was first determined 150 years ago. But our bodies have changed.

More recent research suggests that the average adult body temperature is about one degree lower, 97.5° F (36.4° C). Older adults often have an even lower body temperature without it indicating any health problems.

However, recent studies indicate that 98.2° F (36.8°C) is a more accurate average, and in older individuals it may be about 1°F lower. One small study even suggested that in healthy older patients, body temperature ranged from 94° F to 99.6° F, with an average of 97.7° F.

Several factors can lead to a lower body temperature in older people. For instance, as you age, you lose fat under the skin in your extremities and your skin becomes drier; both of these changes cause loss of body heat. Metabolism, which also generates heat, tends to slow as you age. Medications, including beta blockers and antipsychotic drugs, also may lower body temperature, as can an underactive thyroid gland.

Because of their lower baseline temperatures, older people need to be careful to avoid prolonged exposure to the cold, which may lead to hypothermia, which occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it and causes a dangerously low body temperature. Also, they should pay extra attention to fevers. A fever of 99° F, which doesn’t sound high, can be serious in an older person whose normal baseline temperature is below 97° F.

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date,
should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Constantly high or low temperature

There is no such person who would not measure his body temperature 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.

It is believed that a temperature of 36.6 is normal for humans. However, this is not entirely true. Indeed, this temperature is the most optimal for biochemical processes in the body.But each person is individual, so it is possible to consider the normal temperature from 36 to 37.4 ° C.

The body temperature of one person can vary during the day. The lowest temperature is observed at about 6 am, 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 exhibit the same temperature cycle as the rest.

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

Temperature differences between internal organs were revealed. The highest liver temperature (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. The temperature is considered to be elevated from 37.5 ° C to 42 ° C. With an increase in body temperature for each degree Celsius above 37 ° C, the frequency of respiratory movements increases by 4 breaths, and the pulse also increases. If the body temperature rises, 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 42 ° C, with it there is 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. A lowered 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 this temperature persists for a long time, then this may indicate various diseases or the period of their exacerbation. Only a doctor can identify the true cause and prescribe treatment. A drop 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 this temperature.

Constantly elevated temperature

Sometimes a person has a constant or periodic increase in temperature up to 37.5 ° C without any other symptoms of the disease. This temperature is called subfebrile. Due to the fact that very often the subfebrile increase in temperature is within the physiological norm and there are no other symptoms besides the “increased” temperature, determining the causes of this condition seems extremely difficult and laborious.

Usually, a number of examinations are required to determine the causes of low-grade fever. A patient with low-grade fever 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.For the most accurate results, 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, which can affect the final result.

In the oral cavity. When measuring the temperature in the oral cavity, it is necessary to refrain from eating and drinking, as well as from smoking for 1 hour before the measurement.With this method of measuring temperature, the results can be influenced by the frequency of breathing, 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 the temperature in the ear canal (which is often found when measuring at home) can lead to erroneous results.

________

If you have a persistently high temperature or, conversely, too low, if you suffer from frequent illnesses accompanied by a high temperature, you need to see a doctor. Qualified Dialine specialists will examine you, conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary treatment.Always be healthy with Dialine!

Article author Natalia Gorshkova

Specialist Comment

General practitioner, chief physician of Dialine Medical Center, 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 a disruption in the functioning of the nervous, endocrine or cardiovascular systems, and is also caused by chronic infections, parasite infestations, incl.including worms, cancer. Only a doctor can establish the cause of such a temperature. At the reception, the doctor can prescribe blood tests, urine, feces, cultures, if necessary, ECG, ultrasound, X-ray studies, if indicated – endoscopic examination of the stomach and intestines, tomography and other studies.

However, when the body temperature is above 39.5 or below 32, as well as at any temperature, if the patient’s condition is serious, there is a danger of complications or danger to life, you should urgently call an ambulance. “

What body temperature can be considered normal> News Medicine in Samara

During the cold and flu season, many people are preoccupied with changes in body temperature.

This is an unstable value that can increase or decrease insignificantly during the day, not only due to illness. The doctors told me what temperature can be considered normal and what fluctuations will not harm health.

As per standard

Well-known truth: normal body temperature is 36.6 degrees Celsius. However, modern medicine has proven that each person has his own norm, it can stay in the range from 35.9 to 37.2 ° C.

A personal indicator is formed by about 14 years for girls and by 20 – for young people. It is influenced by many factors. Temperature depends on gender, race, age. Men are on average half a degree colder.In addition, during the day, the temperature of anyone, even an absolutely healthy person, fluctuates.

Minor changes in one direction or another are not considered pathological. Therapist Olga Volkova told about this.

– It should be borne in mind that during the day the body temperature of a healthy person fluctuates within one degree, says the doctor. – The fluctuations are greatly influenced by climatic conditions, human well-being. For people of different ages, the upper limit of normal temperature is different.

Alarming sign – significant deviations from the norm. In some people, during illness, the temperature rises significantly, while in others it even decreases. The degree falls due to overwork, with exacerbation of chronic diseases, adrenal disease, hypothyroidism – a decrease in the activity of the thyroid gland.

“Low temperature is no less dangerous than high temperature, as the body becomes more vulnerable,” said Volkova. – Although there are exceptional cases when a person’s body temperature is below 35.

According to her, it is recommended to bring down the body temperature only when it exceeds 38.5 degrees. Before that, you should not take antipyretic drugs. Perhaps at this time, the body is actively and successfully fighting the infection. However, in any case, in the event of a serious temperature jump, it is necessary to consult a doctor in order to find out the cause of the failure and fix the problem.

The norm of body temperature is considered to be:

• in newborn babies – 36.8 ° C;
• in six-month-old babies – 37.5;
• in one-year-old children – 37.5;
• for three-year-olds – 37.5;
• for six-year-olds – 37.0;
• in people of reproductive age – 36.8;
• in the elderly – 36.3 ° C.[/ box]

Irina Kopylova, DOCTOR-THERAPIST:

– The body temperature of an adult during the day fluctuates, remaining in the range of 35.5 – 37.2 degrees. The temperature standard depends on the place of its measurement. For example, in the armpit – 36.6, in the mouth – 37, in the ear – 37.5. The lowest temperature is observed in the early morning hours, and the highest in the evening. Frequent causes of excess of the norm are inflammatory processes caused by viruses and bacteria. In such cases, it is not recommended to reduce the body temperature to 38.5 degrees.

Irina Baranova, DOCTOR OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE AND BIOHACKER:

– It is customary to focus on the norm of 36.6 – 36.7 degrees when measured with a mercury thermometer in the armpit. There are, of course, individual cases when a person constantly has a slightly higher or lower temperature, but they are extremely rare. The rise can indicate both the onset of an inflammatory or infectious process, as well as stress or banal overheating. There are many reasons. If you calmly endure a high temperature and you do not have new symptoms against its background, then it is better not to knock it down, but to let the immune system work on its own.But be sure to keep track of the dynamics. Excessive temperatures can damage cells and tissues.

Cover photo: pixabay.com

90,000 What happens to you with extremely low or high body temperature

Everyone knows that 36.6 ° C is a normal body temperature, and 39 ° C means that everything is very bad. But at the same time, have you ever wondered what happens if your thermometer suddenly shows numbers outside these values?

We are at AdMe.ru seriously asked this question and found a result that everyone should know. Let’s take a look at the extreme temperatures and find out why they are not mentioned anywhere.

Normal temperature – 35.5–37 ° C

During the day, the body temperature of each of us ranges from 35.5 ° C (in the morning) to 37.0 ° C (in the evening). Such a change in temperature is determined by the daily cycle of the Sun, you do not particularly influence the process directly. In addition, here’s an interesting fact for you: the average body temperature of women is 0.5 ° C higher than that of men.

Long-term 37.1–38.0 ° C

An elevated temperature within the range of 37.1–38.0 ° C for a long time may indicate the presence of some sluggish disease in the body. In some cases, such a temperature may be the only manifestation of any disease in the early stages, so it is better to consult a doctor right away.

If a similar temperature is observed for a short time, you should not panic at all, it is not dangerous.

High 38–41 ° C

This rise in temperature is perceived by us as a terrible disease. But in fact, the temperature of 39 ° C and above inhibits the reproduction of the vast majority of microbes. Thanks to this, the processes in the immune system proceed faster, the blood flow intensifies, and the term for the release of antibodies against your virus is reduced. At the same time, a program of small muscle tremors is often turned on, which keeps the heat inside. If you have a fever in this state, this indicates the second phase – a decrease in temperature.So a high temperature is the body’s automated struggle for survival. This is not bad at all. But it is also impossible to be inactive – we look at the next point.

Also, the temperature can rise to 40 ° C in a steam bath – in this case, do not worry, it is natural.

Extreme 42–43 ° C

Have you ever wondered why the scale of a medical thermometer ends at 45 ° C? The fact is that at 42 ° C, irreversible decomposition of proteins in the body begins, at 43 ° C – denaturation of proteins in the neurons of the brain, which leads to a guaranteed death.Therefore, temperatures above 40 ° C must be brought down immediately.

Hazardous 30–35 ° C

A temperature level between 30 and 35 ° C indicates either severe fatigue or a serious illness. Even with a minimal drop in body temperature below the norm, a person begins to shiver (muscles are trying to generate more heat), blood vessels contract. From 33 ° C metabolic processes of the body begin to slow down.

Catastrophic 29.5 ° C

At this temperature, oxygen saturation of the body decreases, blood supply slows down.Most people lose consciousness in this state.

And the last 26.5 ° C

Below 26.5 ° C, the blood begins to coagulate and form blood clots. This interferes with blood flow to vital organs and is also fatal.

Disclaimer: There are exceptions. For example, the record was recorded in 1994, when a 2-year-old Canadian girl, who spent 6 hours in the cold, had a body temperature of 14.2 ° C (she is now doing well). But this is an isolated case, rather even phenomenal.So when the temperature drops, it is better to see a doctor right away.

Have you ever had an abnormal temperature?

Degree of stress: what the body temperature can tell about

Body temperature is one of the most important indicators of the state of the body. From childhood, we seem to know that 36.6 is the norm, and an increase in temperature to 37 or more indicates the onset of the disease. But is everything so clear?

Does an elevated body temperature always indicate that a malfunction has occurred in the body? Why does it increase and when do you urgently need to see a doctor? We tried to figure it out.

Where is the norm?

Normal body temperature is considered to be the body temperature of a healthy adult in the middle of the day at rest.

Because in the morning we are somewhat colder – by 0.5 – 0.7 degrees, and by the evening we can “get hot” by 0.3 – 0.5 degrees.

For some time, the opinion was popular that each person has his own temperature standard. However, physiologists are now convinced that this is not the case. The norm, of course, depends on the sex, age and race of a person, but in general, the temperature of a healthy person cannot be lower than 35.9 degrees and higher than 37.2.Other thermometer readings indicate problems in the body.

From 34.9 to 35.2

This may indicate that you have a malfunction of the thyroid gland, hypothyroidism, blood problems, a sharp “collapse” of immunity – for example, after a course of antibiotics or specific therapy …

All these problems involve a visit to a doctor. You can have general blood and urine tests right away so that the doctor can see the key changes and direct you for a more detailed examination.

There is another unusual reason for a severe drop in temperature – a state of severe hangover. This hypothermia is associated with impaired vascular response.

From 35.3 to 35.8

Moderately lowered body temperature, which may not mean anything particularly dangerous. She can talk about seasonal depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthenic syndrome, impaired protein absorption in the body.

It can also talk about more serious problems – dysfunction of the liver and gallbladder, as well as the initial stage of diabetes mellitus.

If you are constantly freezing, your hands and feet are cold, see a doctor. Perhaps there is nothing wrong, and you just need to change the daily routine and diet. The fact is that sometimes people with vegetative-vascular dystonia react in this way to weather changes and you just need to learn how to behave correctly during these periods.

From 35.9 to 36.9

This is a normal temperature, indicating that your thermoregulation is normal and there are no acute inflammatory processes in your body at the moment.

Heat flick: temperature 35.5 predicts death from COVID-19 | Articles

A body temperature of 35.5 ° C and below when initially seeking help for COVID-19 can be a factor in the severe course of the disease. Of this group of patients, 44% die. A temperature above 40 ° C at the time of the development of the disease also indicates a fatal development of the process. The mortality rate in such groups is 42%. These are the conclusions reached by American scientists. Russian experts have different assessments of the possible causes and consequences of low temperatures during coronavirus infection.

Borderline

7,614 people took part in a study conducted by scientists at the Center for Cardiovascular Research at Icahn School of Medicine on Mount Sinai, New York. All of them were patients of the hospitals of this institution. Experts decided to understand whether temperature can predict the course of the disease.

“ Most hospitalized patients with COVID-19 have one common symptom – fever. The degree to which the temperature rises may reflect the severity of the inflammation.However, there are currently no publications on studies considering body temperature as a possible prognostic marker. We tried to find out if monitoring body temperature in patients who test positive for COVID-19 can provide useful information to estimate the estimated mortality rate, ”the article says.

Researchers have studied the temperature readings of the infected. It turned out that cardinally low values ​​at the first visit (below 35.5 ° C), as well as especially high values ​​at the time of the development of the disease (above 40 ° C), can confidently predict a fatal outcome.

Photo: Izvestia / Zurab Javakhadze

“Thus, – write the authors, – low body temperature at the first visit to the doctor can serve as a marker of an unfavorable prognosis. At the same time, the maximum body temperature is also significantly associated with the mortality rate. For every 0.5 ° C increase in temperature, there is a significant increase in mortality, and in patients with a maximum temperature> 40.0 ° C, the mortality rate reached 42%.

Scientists conclude that body temperature can be used as an easily measurable predictor.

“It remains to be seen whether targeting fever in critically ill COVID-19 patients can reduce the inflammatory response and improve outcomes. More research is needed to answer this question, ”the scientists write.

Poor thermoregulation

Russian experts have different assessments of the possible causes of the low temperature recorded during the initial visit to the doctor.And also the possibility of linking this factor with the fatal development of COVID-19.

“One of the reasons is the correlation between normal body temperature and old age,” Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Virology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU Sergey Netesov explained to Izvestia. – It is generally known that the normal body temperature in older people is slightly lower than that of younger people. So a low body temperature in patients on the day of admission may simply be a sign of old age. Another possible cause is a too weak reaction of the immune system, including a very weak production of interleukin-1 (a mediator of inflammation and immunity, which is synthesized by many cells of the body. – Izvestia), which is one of the body’s methods of fighting infection.

Photo: Izvestia / Zurab Javakhadze

The expert associates the increased temperature and the associated risk of death with an overreaction of the body to a viral infection with the threat of a cytokine storm.

– High temperature is caused, as a rule, by increased expression in the body of a cytokine – interleukin 1. And if a lot of it is produced, then the body temperature rises high , – added the scientist.

The case is in the hypothalamus

Another reason may be the defeat of the center of chemical thermoregulation, which is located in the posterior hypothalamus, says Galina Reva, professor at the Department of Fundamental Medicine at the School of Biomedicine of the Far Eastern Federal University (the university is a participant in the project to improve the competitiveness of education “5-100”).

“Both low temperature and high temperature can be associated with this,” she said. – The center of chemical thermoregulation is located in the posterior hypothalamus. The anterior one controls heat transfer through the implementation of the respiratory and vasomotor center. Damage to the higher regulatory centers of the body is more important than local damage. Since hypothalamic neurons do not have a typical blood-brain barrier, they are very sensitive to ischemia and viral toxins. Lack of regeneration and neuronal death are associated with a poor prognosis.

The possibility of using temperature as a prognostic marker of COVID-19 course Stanislav Otstavnov, a leading researcher and deputy head of the laboratory for analysis of population health indicators and digitalization of healthcare at MIPT, called an interesting hypothesis.

Photo: Izvestia / Zurab Javakhadze

– She has a right to exist. The higher the temperature, the “stronger” the body tries to fight the infection, but this is resource-intensive and does not always work. A temperature of 41 degrees, regardless of the reason, is an extremely dangerous condition for the life of the body and requires a prompt reaction, because in this case it is not far from the coagulation of proteins. At the same time, low temperatures are also harbingers of health problems , the expert shared his thoughts.

Earlier, Izvestia wrote that the second wave of coronavirus infection could begin in September, due to the beginning of the school year. We are talking about the return of nonresident students to megacities, who can bring SARS-CoV-2 to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Coronavirus body temperature | TV BRICS, 01.01.70

The number of people infected with coronavirus already exceeds 3,600,000. The number of severe cases also continues to increase. People hear from friends about new infections, start to worry and look for symptoms of coronavirus , measure temperature , monitor breathing.

To avoid unnecessary anxiety, it is worth knowing the real symptoms of coronavirus, what is the temperature of in a person with a disease and what actions should be taken when the first signs appear.We will consider what happens during infection and how to distinguish coronavirus from SARS in this article.

General manifestations of the disease

T Temperature in human coronavirus is a key sign, along with other symptoms of the disease. Depending on the individual manifestation of the disease , the body temperature in coronavirus may be different. The disease can manifest itself as:

• acute respiratory infection, affecting only the upper respiratory tract;
• pneumonia, with the possibility of manifestations of respiratory failure;
• acute respiratory distress syndrome;
• sepsis.

For some severe cases, the development of infectious-toxic shock is characteristic, which provokes a threat to life. In this case, it is impossible to do without urgent resuscitation measures, since there is a high probability of death. But in the bulk (about 80%), the disease is mild, which is difficult to distinguish from the common cold.

With coronavirus, necessarily appears temperature , to which is added a dry, unproductive cough, difficulty breathing when walking, weakness and fatigue.Many sick people experience a feeling of heaviness in the chest, headache. Rarely are gastrointestinal disorders, palpitations.

But the first symptom of coronavirus in humans in most cases is temperature , even if there are no other manifestations of the disease. The first signs appear, as a rule, after the incubation period on the 6-14th day of the disease.

What is the temperature in case of coronavirus

Temperature in coronavirus is the body’s response to the appearance of an infection.The further progression of the disease and the timing of recovery depend on the measures taken correctly. But it is necessary to take into account the fact that, although it is small (no more than 5-10%), there is a possibility of the course of the disease without an increase in temperature.

In a healthy person, the average temperature of should be at the level of 36.6 ° C. With coronavirus , the amplitude of temperature fluctuations expands significantly. If a healthy person has a normal range from 36.1 to 37.2, then during infection the temperature can reach maximum levels.

Therefore, you need to know what temperature in case of coronavirus in adults is considered elevated. But, unlike classic viral infections, with coronavirus, a temperature of 37 ° C is already a deviation. It can increase dramatically in a short period, or increase gradually.

Temperature is not typical for the early stage of infection, since during infection, the immune system takes the coronavirus shell of the COVID-19 virus for a useful molecule.The action of the immune system begins only after the RNA of the virus begins to multiply in the cell it has captured.

Spreading through the body, the virus activates protective functions, as a result of which the immune system begins to act, and the body temperature rises. It is possible to destroy most of the viral molecules, or prevent their multiplication at a temperature of 38 ° C. It is unambiguously impossible to answer question what is the temperature with coronavirus in humans , since it depends on the immune system.

How long the temperature lasts with coronavirus also depends on the body’s response to the virus, on how quickly the body’s defense systems cope with the task. As a rule, the temperature in coronavirus in adults lasts 1 – 3 days, sometimes up to 5 – 6 days.

It is not uncommon for the temperature to drop, a person feels better, but the next day the disease takes over the body again and begins to progress, leading to complications. If the fever continues for a week, it also indicates the development of complications.

What to do if the body temperature rises

If you feel the first symptoms of the disease, do not give in to feelings of anxiety. Make a home doctor call. Do not leave your home so as not to endanger the infection of people around you. With coronavirus, only symptomatic treatment is used, since there is no drug that suppresses the pathogen.

Temperatures up to 38.5 ° C during a viral infection are considered normal, as this indicates that the body is trying to cope with the virus.Therefore, it is necessary to knock it down if there is no poor tolerance of an elevated temperature. What to do if the temperature in coronavirus reaches 38.5 ° C and above? With such a fever, it is necessary to take Aspirin or Paracetamol.

With strong immunity, the temperature is usually high, but this way the body copes with the virus faster. Your doctor may prescribe immunosuppressive drugs to suppress the increased immune system responses that make you feel unwell.Signs of poor temperature tolerance:

• headache;
• a sharp change in blood pressure;
• disorders of the heart.

How to identify coronavirus

In order to distinguish coronavirus from influenza and SARS, a special test is carried out. In addition, there are a number of signs indicating possible infection with coronavirus:

• in case of influenza or ARVI, the disease begins to manifest itself 2-3 days after contact with an infected person.With coronavirus, the incubation period can last up to 14 days;
• in addition to high temperature, the coronavirus is characterized by the appearance of dry cough, shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
• muscle and joint pain may be present.

If such symptoms appear, you need to call the clinic and leave a request for a call. Stay in bed and drink plenty of water and warm drinks until your doctor visits. Antipyretic drugs are ineffective if there is a lack of fluid in the body.

Is there a temperature with coronavirus and how to act when it appears, you now know. It should be noted that the information is provided for informational purposes only. Do not self-medicate!

90,000 Helping pets at low temperatures in the Aist-vet clinic, Odintsovo

All cat owners know that an increase in temperature in a pet is a sign of the presence of any inflammatory processes, but not everyone pays the same close attention to a decrease in indicators.It is quite simple to recognize them – the cat becomes lethargic, drowsy, she tries to lie down closer to the warmth, her paws get cold. But the owners rarely attach particular importance to this, and in the meantime, a drop in temperature can be an extremely dangerous symptom, and immediate intervention of specialists is required here.

Temperature Secrets

Normal indicators for cats are 37.5-39 degrees (in small kittens, 39-39.5 C can be considered the norm, which persists for quite a long time). Accurate data is always individual, and it is imperative to know the norm of your pet: this will help to start acting in time if the indicators decrease.

What can a drop in temperature mean? There are many options, and they are all pretty dangerous. A cat can have:

• heart disease;
• serious malfunctions of the nervous system;
• progressive kidney disease;
• problems with the endocrine system.

Considering this, you need to get a consultation with a veterinarian within 24 hours after the low temperature was set. Of course, it is not necessary to measure it daily, but if warning signs appear, it will be necessary to find out the current indicators.And you should not delay a visit to the doctor if you do not want to lose your pet.

What to do with the temperature?

If the thermometer stops at 37 or below, this means that the cat needs emergency help. Until the owner gets to the doctor, he must:

• place the pet in a well-heated room;
• to wrap a cat in a scarf or blanket;
• Cover the animal with heating pads with water heated to 38-40 degrees.

It is very important to keep the animal warm from the outside, but do not forget about the internal warmth.Warm drink – warmed (but not hot!) Milk or broth will help to restore its balance.

And, of course, in such a situation it is important to measure the temperature regularly. If it falls or has reached 36 C and does not rise, this indicates that the animal’s disease is progressing, and its protective capabilities have been exhausted.