Age and activity level affect normal body temperature. Body temperature averages 37°C. However, the baseline temperature of a person's body can vary slightly from person to person. This article discusses adult, child, and pregnant temperature ranges. We also consider factors affecting body temperature and when to call our Home GP doctor in Sotogrande for a change in body temperature.
Normal temperature in adults
Reviews indicate that the average temperature of an adult's body across all of the different reading sites is 36.59 degrees Celsius.
The researchers also discovered that the average adult body temperature, when taken orally, falls between 36.24 and 37 degrees Celsius.
The normal temperature of the human body can change depending on demographic factors. According to the findings of a study that involved almost 35,500 people, those over the age of 65 have the lowest average body temperatures.
The investigators also discovered that certain medical conditions can have an effect on a person's internal temperature. For instance, people who suffer from hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid, tend to have lower body temperatures, whereas cancer sufferers tend to have higher temperatures.
The following temperatures, when present, almost always indicate that a person has a fever:
- at least 38°C is a fever
- above 39.5°C is a high fever
- above 41°C is a very high fever
Normal temperature in children
Although it varies, the average temperature of a child's body is approximately 36.4 degrees Celsius. Children may also have fevers if their temperatures are higher than 38 degrees Celsius, just like adults.
Normal temperature in babies
The average core temperature of an infant is typically higher than that of an older child or an adult. The average temperature of a newborn baby's body is approximately 37.5 degrees Celsius.
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The reason why a baby's temperature is higher than that of an adult is because their body has a larger surface area in comparison to their body weight. Additionally, their bodies have a higher metabolic rate, which results in increased heat production.
Babies' bodies don't regulate temperature well. When it is warm, they sweat less, which indicates that their bodies are able to hold more heat. When they have a fever, it may be more difficult for them to bring their body temperature down.
Normal temperatures during pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman's resting metabolic rate, also known as BMR, is elevated. This indicates that the body generates a greater amount of heat.
According to the findings of one study, the highest temperature that a woman's body can reach during pregnancy is between 35.6 and 37.5 degrees Celsius. Just after the 33rd week, the average temperature of the body drops to its lowest point, which is somewhere between 35.3 and 37.3 degrees Celsius.
When to call our Home GP doctor in Sotogrande for a change in body temperature
Different age groups may have varying degrees of necessity for medical assistance. Call our Home GP doctor in Sotogrande for a change in body temperature in the following situations.
Adults
A person who is running a fever may or may not require medical attention, depending on the circumstances. If, on the other hand, a person's temperature is or higher, they should get in touch with our Home GP doctor in Sotogrande for a change in body temperature.
In addition, a person should seek medical attention if they experience any of the following symptoms in conjunction with a fever:
- dehydration
- dizziness, lightheadedness
- severe cramps
- a fever that does not go away or is getting worse
If you have a fever, you should also seek medical attention, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- recent transplant participants
- individuals who have immune systems that are not functioning properly.
- patients who are taking immunosuppressants
- those who have completed their treatment for cancer in the recent past
A person is said to be suffering from hyperpyrexia, also known as a very high fever, if their temperature is higher than 41.5 degrees Celsius. This can result in irreversible organ damage and ultimately death. Hyperpyrexia requires urgent medical assistance and you should call our Home GP doctor in Sotogrande for a change in body temperature as soon as possible.
Hypothermia is a condition that can occur when a person's core temperature drops too low. This is an urgent situation that requires medical attention, and y0ou should call our Home GP doctor in Sotogrande for a change in body temperature right away. Hypothermia is diagnosed when a patient's core temperature falls below 35 degrees Celsius.
Children
If a child's temperature is higher than 40 degrees Celsius, a concerned adult should call our Home GP doctor in Sotogrande for a change in body temperature. They should also seek medical help if the child is experiencing dehydration, vomiting, or diarrhoea; if the fever lasts for five days or more; or if the child has a temperature that is consistently high.
When a child's temperature falls below 35 degrees Celsius, immediate medical attention is required.
Babies
If an infant younger than three months old has a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, call our Home GP doctor in Sotogrande for a change in body temperature. A mild fever in a young infant may be an indication of a more serious infection.
Temperatures of 39 degrees Celsius or higher should also prompt parents of infants aged up to six months to get in touch with emergency services.
If a baby's temperature falls below 35 degrees Celsius, they will require immediate medical attention, just like adults and older children do when their temperature does so.