Human Body Temperature: Fever, Normal, Low Readings

- Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2016/01/05 - Updated: 2025/02/10
Publication Type: Charts, Graphs, Tables
Topic: Medical Calculators and Charts - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Comprehensive charts, tables, and explanations on human body temperature ranges including normal, fever, high, and low levels.

Why it matters: This page provides a comprehensive chart detailing human body temperature ranges, including normal, high, and low readings, as well as specific information on fever thresholds related to conditions like COVID-19. It is particularly useful for individuals needing to monitor health metrics, such as seniors or those with disabilities who might require regular temperature checks to manage their health effectively. The article explains how to measure body temperature accurately in various locations like the mouth, ear, armpit, forehead, and rectum, and highlights the differences in readings these methods can produce. This information is not only interesting for general health awareness but also crucial for caregivers and individuals in understanding when medical attention might be necessary due to fever or hypothermia - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Did you know normal human body temperature is also known as normothermia or euthermia? And your body temperature can be measured in many locations, including the mouth, ear, armpit, forehead, and rectum. However, it is worth noting that your body temperature reading will vary depending on where the measurement is taken.

Main Item

The armpit is about 0.5C lower than the human body's core temperature (temperature of the internal organs) - the time of day, your age, and activity level, and, in women, the stage of the menstrual cycle can also affect your temperature reading.

COVID-19 Fever Statistics

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

COVID-19 Fever Levels

It's important to clarify that not all COVID-19 cases will get a fever, nor will everyone with a fever test positive for COVID-19, but it is a prevalent symptom.

Quick Facts:

Body Temperature Can Be Taken Either:

What is the Normal Body Temperature for a Baby?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states the normal body temperature for a healthy baby is between 97 and 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit (37.94 °C). If the rectal temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher, they are considered to have a fever.

What is the Normal Body Temperature for Children?

The average body temperature for children is about 37 °C (98.6 °F). A child's temperature usually averages from around 36.3 °C (97.4 °F) in the morning to 37.6 °C (99.6 °F) in the afternoon.

What is the Normal Body Temperature for Adults?

At What Temperature Are You said to Have a Fever?

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a fever is indicated when body temperature rises about one degree or more over the normal temperature of 37.0 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Adults:

A fever is generally agreed to be present if:

Children:

A child is considered to have a fever if their rectal temperature is 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher - or a child's armpit temperature is 37.4 °C (99.3 °F) or higher.

Core Measurement Fever Temperature Chart and Possible Symptoms
Normal Body Temperature Range
36.5 to 37.6 °C (97.7 to 99.7 °F) Typically reported range for normal body temperature.
Cold Body Temperature Range
36 °C (96.8 °F) Feeling cold, mild to moderate shivering. Body temperature may drop this low during sleep. This can be a normal body temperature for sleeping.
35 °C (95 °F) Hypothermia is less than 35 °C (95 °F). Intense shivering, numbness, bluish/gray skin. Possibility of heart irritability.
34 °C (93.2 °F) Severe shivering, loss of movement of fingers, blueness, and confusion. Some behavioral changes may take place.
33 °C (91.4 °F) Moderate to severe confusion, sleepiness, depressed reflexes, progressive loss of shivering, slow heartbeat, shallow breathing. Shivering may stop. May become unresponsive to certain stimuli.
32 °C (89.6 °F) Medical emergency. Hallucinations, delirium, complete confusion, and extreme sleepiness progressively become comatose. Shivering is absent (a person may think they are hot). Reflex may be absent or very slight.
31 °C (87.8 °F) Comatose, very rarely conscious. No, or slight reflexes. Very shallow breathing and slow heart rate. Possibility of serious heart rhythm problems.
28 °C (82.4 °F) Severe heart rhythm disturbances are likely, and breathing may stop anytime.
24 to 26 °C (75.2 to 78.8 °F) or less Death usually occurs due to irregular heartbeat or respiratory arrest; however, some patients have been known to survive with body temperatures as low as 13.7 °C (56.7 °F).
Fever Body Temperature Range
44 °C (111.2 °F) Plus Almost certainly, death will occur; however, people have been known to survive up to 46.5 °C (115.7 °F).
43 °C (109.4 °F) Normally death, or there may be serious brain damage, continuous convulsions, and shock. The cardio-respiratory collapse will likely occur.
42 °C (107.6 °F) Subject may turn pale or remain flushed and red. They may become comatose and be in severe delirium; vomiting and convulsions can occur.
41 °C (105.8 °F) Medical emergency. Fainting, vomiting, severe headache, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, and drowsiness can occur. There may also be palpitations and breathlessness.
40 °C (104 °F) Fainting, dehydration, weakness, vomiting, headache, breathlessness, and dizziness may occur as well as profuse sweating.
39 °C (102.2 °F) Severe sweating, flushed, and red. Fast heart rate and breathlessness. There may be exhaustion accompanying this. Children and people with epilepsy may suffer convulsions at this temperature.
38 °C (100.4 °F) Called hyperthermia - if not caused by a fever. Feeling hot, sweating, thirsty, uncomfortable, slightly hungry. If this is caused by fever, there may also be chills.

What is Basal Body Temperature?

Basal body temperature is defined as the lowest temperature attained by the human body during rest (usually during sleep). Basal body temperature is generally measured immediately after awakening, although the temperature measured at that time is somewhat higher than the actual basal body temperature. In women, body temperature will differ at various points in the menstrual cycle, and this temperature change can be used to track ovulation to aid conception or avoid pregnancy.

What is Core Body Temperature?

Core temperature is the operating temperature of an organism, specifically in deep structures, such as the liver, compared to temperatures of peripheral tissues. Core temperature is normally maintained within a narrow range, so essential enzymatic reactions can occur.

What is Hyperpyrexia?

The word used for a fever with an extreme elevation of body temperature greater than or equal to 41.5 °C (106.7 °F).

What is Hyperthermia?

A high temperature that is not a fever. Causes include heatstroke, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, idiosyncratic drug reactions, malignant hyperthermia, stimulants like amphetamines or cocaine, and serotonin syndrome.

What Body Temperature Denotes Hypothermia?

Hypothermia is defined as a drop in body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 °C). Hypothermia can quickly become life-threatening and should be treated as a medical emergency. Hypothermia is the opposite of hyperthermia, which is present in heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

°C to °F and °F to °C Body Temperature Conversion Chart

  • 35.0 °C = 95.0 °F
  • 35.1 °C = 95.2 °F
  • 35.2 °C = 95.4 °F
  • 35.3 °C = 95.6 °F
  • 35.4 °C = 95.8 °F
  • 35.6 °C = 96.0 °F
  • 35.7 °C = 96.2 °F
  • 35.8 °C = 96.4 °F
  • 35.9 °C = 96.6 °F
  • 36.0 °C = 96.8 °F
  • 36.1 °C = 97.0 °F
  • 36.2 °C = 97.2 °F
  • 36.3 °C = 97.4 °F
  • 36.4 °C = 97.6 °F
  • 36.5 °C = 97.7 °F
  • 36.6 °C = 97.8 °F
  • 36.7 °C = 98.0 °F
  • 36.8 °C = 98.2 °F
  • 36.9 °C = 98.4 °F
  • 37.0 °C = 98.6 °F
  • 37.1 °C = 98.8 °F
  • 37.2 °C = 99.0 °F
  • 37.3 °C = 99.2 °F
  • 37.4 °C = 99.4 °F
  • 37.6 °C = 99.6 °F
  • 37.7 °C = 99.8 °F
  • 37.8 °C = 100.0 °F
  • 37.9 °C = 100.2 °F
  • 38.0 °C = 100.4 °F
  • 38.1 °C = 100.6 °F
  • 38.2 °C = 100.8 °F
  • 38.3 °C = 101.0 °F
  • 38.4 °C = 101.2 °F
  • 38.6 °C = 101.4 °F
  • 38.7 °C = 101.6 °F
  • 38.8 °C = 101.8 °F
  • 38.9 °C = 102.0 °F
  • 39.0 °C = 102.2 °F
  • 39.1 °C = 102.4 °F
  • 39.2 °C = 102.6 °F
  • 39.3 °C = 102.8 °F
  • 39.4 °C = 103.0 °F
  • 39.6 °C = 103.2 °F
  • 39.7 °C = 103.4 °F
  • 39.8 °C = 103.6 °F
  • 39.9 °C = 103.8 °F
  • 40.0 °C = 104.0 °F
  • 40.1 °C = 104.2 °F
  • 40.2 °C = 104.4 °F
  • 40.3 °C = 104.6 °F
  • 40.4 °C = 104.8 °F
  • 40.6 °C = 105.0 °F
  • 40.7 °C = 105.2 °F
  • 40.8 °C = 105.4 °F
  • 40.9 °C = 105.6 °F
  • 41.0 °C = 105.8 °F
  • 41.1 °C = 106.0 °F
  • 41.2 °C = 106.2 °F
  • 41.3 °C = 106.4 °F
  • 41.4 °C = 106.6 °F
  • 41.6 °C = 106.8 °F

Normal Human Body and Fever Temperature Chart

Continued below image.
Printable human body temperature chart explaining high, standard, and low readings.
Printable human body temperature chart explaining high, standard, and low readings.
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Citing Information and Page References

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Cite This Page (APA): Langtree, I. C. (2016, January 5 - Last revised: 2025, February 10). Human Body Temperature: Fever, Normal, Low Readings. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved February 11, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/calculators-charts/degrees.php

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