What is average body temperature

There are two types of heatstroke. Classic heatstroke can happen even when a person isn't doing much, as long as it's hot and the body isn't able cool itself well enough by sweating. The person may even stop sweating. Classic heatstroke may develop over several days. Babies, older adults, and people who have chronic health problems have the greatest risk of this type of heatstroke.

Exertional heatstroke may happen when a person is working or exercising in a hot place. The person may sweat a lot, but the body still makes more heat than it can lose. This causes temperature to rise to high levels. Check for a very low body temperature in people who have been exposed to cold. Check for a very high body temperature in people who have been exposed to heat.

Find out how well a fever-reducing medicine is working. Help a woman plan for pregnancy by finding out if she is ovulating.

How To Prepare Take your temperature a few times when you are well. Before you take your temperature: Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after you smoke, you eat, or you drink a hot or cold liquid.

Wait at least an hour after hard exercise or a hot bath. There are different types of thermometers. Electronic thermometers are plastic and shaped like a pencil.

They have a display window at one end and the temperature probe at the other end. These thermometers can be used in the mouth, rectum, or armpit. They are easy to use and easy to read. If you buy this type of thermometer, check the package for information about its accuracy. Ear thermometers are plastic and come in different shapes. The small cone-shaped end of the thermometer is placed in the ear. Body temperature is shown on a digital display.

The results appear in seconds. Some models also show what the oral and rectal readings would be. Temporal artery thermometers have a small "cup" that is moved across the skin over the artery in the forehead. Products for taking temporal artery temperature sweeping thermometer across your child's forehead at home have not yet been shown to be accurate or reliable enough for home use. How It Is Done Before you take a temperature, read the instructions for how to use your type of thermometer.

How to take an oral temperature Oral by mouth is the most common method of taking a temperature. Place the thermometer under the tongue, just to one side of the centre. Ask the person to close his or her lips tightly around it. Leave the thermometer in place for the required amount of time. Time yourself with a clock or watch. Some digital thermometers give a series of short beeps when the reading is done. Remove the thermometer and read it. Clean a digital thermometer with cool, soapy water and rinse it off before you put it away.

How to take a rectal temperature This is the most accurate way to measure body temperature. Apply a lubricant jelly or petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, on the bulb of the thermometer. This will make it easy to insert. With a baby or small child, place them safely on their stomach on your lap or a comfortable surface.

If a baby is unable to safely lie on their stomach, place them on their back. Choose a quiet place so that the child won't be distracted or move around too much. Spread the child's buttocks with one hand. With the other hand, gently insert the bulb end of the thermometer into the anus.

Push it in about 1. Don't force it into the rectum. Hold the thermometer in place with two fingers close to the anus not near the end of the thermometer.

Among babies , children, and adults, the following thermometer readings are generally a sign of a fever:. Research from suggests that fever thresholds for older adults might be lower, since older individuals have more difficulty conserving heat. Most of the time, rest is the best medicine. With babies and younger children , it can be hard to know when to call a doctor. Call your pediatrician if:. Seek medical care if your baby or child has a fever and:.

Hypothermia is a serious condition that occurs when you lose too much body heat. Most people associate hypothermia with being outside in cold weather for long periods of time. But hypothermia can occur indoors, too. Babies and older adults are more susceptible. Hypothermia can also be a concern in a poorly heated house in winter or an air-conditioned room in summer.

Most of the time, a fever goes away with a few days of rest. However, when your fever climbs too high, lasts too long, or is accompanied by severe symptoms, seek treatment.

Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms. They might perform or order tests to determine the cause of the fever. Treating the cause of the fever can help your body temperature return to normal. The standard criteria for a fever, Taroyan says, is Some research has suggested that the threshold for a fever should actually be lower; the United States National Library of Medicine says an adult probably has a fever when the temperature is 99 to The starting point for fever in a child may also range from 99 degrees F measured under the armpit to Given the wide range, how can you tell if you actually have a fever or not?

You may have other symptoms of a fever, such as feeling warm to the touch, feeling flushed or having the chills. You Might Also Like:. Armpit thermometers also require several minutes and can be less accurate.

The average body temperature of a newborn is Their bodies are also more metabolically active, which generates heat. 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 temperature of However, a moderate fever can be more worrying for a person with existing heart or lung problems. Temperatures of over Hypothermia can be dangerous if not treated quickly. Call your doctor if a child has a temperature of over If an infant of 3 months or younger has a rectal temperature of In very young babies, a slight fever can signal a serious infection.

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 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.