body temperature
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Introduction
Mean normal temperature for young healthy adults is 36.8 +/- 0.4 degrees C (98.2 +/- 0.7 F). Maximal normal temperature ranges from 37.2 C (98.9 F) at 6 AM to 37.7 C (99.9 F) at 4 PM.
In the elderly, body temperature is lower, & variation in temperature declines with age.
For elderly (mean age 81 years)[1]
| time | mean temperature | setting |
|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 97.3 F, 36.3 C | nursing home |
| 4 PM | 97.4 F, 36.3 C | nursing home |
| 10 PM | 97.8 F. 36.6 C | nursing home |
| 12 PM | 97.7 F, 36.5 C | community |
In the oldest old, body temperature does not vary
Epidemiology
- progressive decline in average normal body temperature of 0.03 C per birth decade.since industrial revolution[2]
Procedure
For measurements of body temperature:
- rectal temperatures are the most reliable
- oral temperatures ok for older children & adults oral temperatures read 0.5-1 degree F lower than rectal temperature
- ear thermometer, useful when oral temperatures not practical - earwax can interfere do not use if ear infection
- temporal thermometer uses infrared technology to read temperature while scanning the forehead
- axillary temperatures are least accurate
More general terms
More specific terms
Additional terms
- age-associated changes in temperature regulation
- hyperthermia (pyrexia)
- hypothermia
- pain & temperature sensation
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gomolin IH, Aung MM, Wolf-Klein G, Auerbach C. Older is colder: temperature range and variation in older people. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Dec;53(12):2170-2. PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16398904
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Protsiv M, Ley C, Lankester J, Hastie T, Parsonnet J. Decreasing human body temperature in the United States since the Industrial Revolution. eLife 2020 Jan 7; 9:e49555 PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31908267 Free PMC Article https://elifesciences.org/articles/49555