What temperature is a fever

What temperature is a fever

Most people know what a fever feels like. To get these first-hand experiences, we speak to Professor H. Alan Schwartz of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He holds a BS in Chemistry as well as an MD in Internal Medicine. As a scientist, he is one of a few experts who can answer this question with confidence: what is a fever?But how high a fever is doesn't tell you much about how sick your child is. A simple cold or other viral infection can sometimes cause a rather high fever (in the 102°–104°F/38.9°–40°C range), but this doesn't usually mean there's a serious problem. In fact, a serious infection, especially in infants, might cause no fever or even a low body temperature (below 97°F or 3Overdressing: Infants, especially newborns, may get fevers if they're overbundled or in a hot environment because they don't regulate their body temperature as well as older kids. But because fevers in newborns can indicate a serious infection, even infants who are overdressed must be checked by a doctor if they have a fever. (Source:6.1°C).

TEMPERATURE

Most people think a normal body temperature is an oral temperature (by mouth) of 37°C (98.6°F). This is an average of normal body temperatures. Your normal temperature may actually be 0.6°C (1°F) or more above or below this. Also, your normal temperature changes by as much as 0.6°C (1°F) during the day, depending on how active you are and the time of day. Body temperature is very sensitive to hormone levels. So a woman's temperature may be higher or lower when she is ovulating or having her menstrual period. In most adults, an oral or axillary temperature above 37.6°C (99.7°F) or a rectal or ear temperature above 38.1°C (100.6°F) is considered a fever. A child has a fever when his or her rectal temperature is higher than 38°C (100.4°F) or armpit (axillary) temperature is higher than 37.5°C (99.5°F). Infants less than 3 months old with a rectal temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher or an armpit (axillary) temperature of 37.5°C (99.5°F) or higher should be seen by a doctor.

Normal body temperature ranges from 97.5°F to 99.5°F (36.4°C to 37.4°C). It tends to be lower in the morning and higher in the evening. Most healthcare providers consider a fever to be 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. A person with a temperature of 99.6°F to 100.3°F has a low-grade fever. High fevers may bring on seizures or confusion in children. It's not how high the temperature is but how fast the temperature goes up that causes a seizure. Fever is a rise in body temperature above the normal temperature, usually caused by infection. Normal body temperature is around 37°C (give or take a degree, depending on individual differences). There may also be minor fluctuations over the course of the day and night. Contrary to popular belief, the severity of fever isn’t necessarily related to the seriousness of the illness – for example, life-threatening meningitis might only cause a small temperature rise. Your body is a complex and smart system that constantly works to keep you feeling your best, including maintaining the optimum internal temperature. Your internal temperature is subject to hormonal and brain activity and adapts to conditions of your environment. For your body to work properly, your optimum body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C). (Source: vicks.com)