Normal body temperature in a healthy person is a range that fluctuates throughout the day. Body temperature can vary as much as 1.0° to 2.0°F (0.5°C to 1.0°C) and is lowest in the morning (2-4 AM) while resting and is warmest in the afternoon (4-6 PM) while active.

Up to 5% of the population has a body temperature that falls outside of the normal range. Body temperature variation is the result of an individual’s metabolic rate.

Slower equals cooler and faster means higher normal body temperature. Metabolic rate is determined by factors such as genetic makeup, lifestyle, age, and environment.

Body temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus that continuously adjusts the temperature to stay within a set range of normal in the absence of illness.

When there is an infectious process, routine monitoring of body temperature can aid early detection, which is an effective measure to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

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Fever is defined as a temperature above an individual’s normal range.

Fever occurs from an infection or inflammation or can also be caused by noninfectious illnesses such as stroke, blood clots, or gout attacks.

Should I add/subtract a degree?

This question can only be answered based on the individual situation. A thermometer will do this accurately, to measure the temperature of the place where the thermometer is placed.

No internal offsets are used to adjust the temperature to an oral equivalent. Many facilities simply report a temperature along with the site used.

Normal body temperature is a range. This table shows that normal temperatures vary by site. Therefore, readings from different sites, even if taken at the same time, should not be directly compared.

The average body temperature is 98.6 F (37 C) for adults

Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature drops below 95 F (35 C).

Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, resulting in a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F (37 C).

Las temperaturas pueden variar a lo largo del día, subiendo hasta 1 grado por la mañana y alcanzando un máximo al final de la tarde. Los aumentos leves pueden deberse al ejercicio, demasiada ropa o ropa de cama, tomar un baño caliente o estar al aire libre en un clima caluroso.

Adults usually have a fever if their body temperature rises to 100.4 ° F (38 ° C). This is called a low fever. High fever occurs when your body temperature is 103 ° F (39.4 ° C) or higher.

More on this story

Human body temperature information and conversion tables include normal, high and low readings and fever readings from Celsius to Fahrenheit.

Infrared thermometers for humans allow users to measure body temperature quickly and non-invasively.

Normal human body temperature varies by person, age, activity, and time of day.