37 Celsius - Body temperature chart | F to C 37 Celsius Search for: 37 Celsius: Body temperature measurement and unit conversions 37 °C is a value that one encounters probably more often than any other temperature reading. If you are used to the Celsius scale, you recognize it immediately. Indeed, a normal body temperature of a healthy person is in the vicinity of 37 degrees Celsius, which makes this value so special and important. For the Fahrenheit folks, you may know it as 98.6 °F (as you can easily verify using our online converter ). It is important to realize however that the 37 Celsius (or 98.6 Fahrenheit) value is essentially an averaged benchmark. What is "normal" depends on various factors, both objective and subjective. At least some of those factors should be taken into account when reaching conclusions about whether one's body temperature is normal. Some objective factors affecting our body temperature include the time of day (with the lowest temperature in the morning and the highest typically around mid-afternoon), recent exercise (you get hot after a long run for instance), a recent meal, warm and/or alcoholic drinks, etc.

All of these aspects can easily make one's temperature fluctuate within one or two degrees. There are also subjective factors, such as the way body temperature is being measured, the instrument (thermometer) type being used, etc. For example, oral and under the arm readings commonly differ (oral being higher), and fast digital thermometer readings may not always be as accurate as longer liquid column thermometer measurements. Digital thermometer Liquid column thermometer To summarize, the message we would like you to keep in mind is that the "normal body temperature" is more of a range rather than a well-defined number, and it should be relied on with reasonable flexibility. We wish you to stay healthy, and in cases when you do need to take a measurement and the only thermometer you have is not marked in the units you like, here is a chart that should help. °C Body Temperature Body Temperature Guide Body temperature is a measure of your body's ability to make and get rid of heat. The body is very good at keeping its temperature within a safe range, even when temperatures outside the body change a lot. When you are too hot, the blood vessels in your skin widen to carry the excess heat to your skin's surface. You may start to sweat.

As the sweat evaporates, it helps cool your body. When you are too cold, your blood vessels narrow. This reduces blood flow to your skin to save body heat. You may start to shiver. When the muscles tremble this way, it helps to make more heat. Your body temperature can be measured in many places on your body. The most common ones are the mouth , the ear, the armpit , and the rectum. Temperature can also be measured on your forehead. show body temperature in either degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or degrees Celsius (°C). In the United States, temperatures are often measured in degrees Fahrenheit. The standard in most other countries is degrees Celsius. Normal body temperature Most people think a normal body temperature is an oral temperature (by mouth ) of 98.6°F (37°C). This is an average of normal body temperatures. Your normal temperature may actually be 1°F (0.6°C) or more above or below this. Also, your normal temperature changes by as much as 1°F (0.6°C) 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. A rectal or ear temperature reading will be a little higher than an oral reading. A temperature taken in the armpit will be a little lower than an oral reading. The most accurate way to measure temperature is to take a rectal reading. Fever In most adults, a fever is an oral temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) or a rectal or ear temperature above 101°F (38.3°C). A child has a fever when his or her rectal temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Temperature of a Healthy Human (Body Temperature) - The Physics Factbook Temperature of a Healthy Human (Body Temperature) Campbell, Neil A. Biology. 3rd ed. California: Benjamin Cummings, 1987: 790. "… a human can maintain its 'internal pond' at a constant temperature of 37 °C" 37 °C "Temperature, Body." World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: Field Enterprises, 1996.

"… a healthy, resting adult human being is 98.6 °F (37.0 °C)" 37.0 °C Simmers, Louise. Diversified Health Occupations. 2nd ed. Canada: Delmar, 1988: 150-151. "… the normal range for body temperature is 97 to 100 degrees fahrenheit or 36.1 to 37.8 degrees celsius" 36.1–37.8 °C Eisman, Louis. Biology and Human Progress. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1972: 125. "… fairly constant temperature of 98.6 degrees" 37.0 °C McGovern, Celeste. "Snatched From an Icy Death." Alberta Report/Western Report. Academic Abstracts: United Western Communications, 1994: 2.

"… core body temperature … the normal 37 °C" 37.0 °C The normal core body temperature of a healthy, resting adult human being is stated to be at 98.6 degrees fahrenheit or 37.0 degrees celsius. Though the body temperature measured on an individual can vary, a healthy human body can maintain a fairly consistent body temperature that is around the mark of 37.0 degrees celsius. The normal range of human body temperature varies due to an individuals metabolism rate, the higher (faster) it is the higher the normal body temperature or the slower the metabolic rate the lower the normal body temperature. Other factors that might affect the body temperature of an individual may be the time of day or the part of the body in which the temperature is measured at. The body temperature is lower in the morning, due to the rest the body received, and higher at night after a day of muscular activity and after food intake. Body temperature also varies at different parts of the body. Oral temperatures, which are the most convenient type of temperature measurement, is at 37.0 °C. This is the accepted standard temperature for the normal core body temperature.

Axillary temperatures are an external measurement taken in the armpit or between two folds of skin on the body. This is the longest and most inaccurate way of measuring body temperature, the normal temperature falls at 97.6 °F or 36.4 °C. Rectal temperatures are an internal measurement taken in the rectum, which fall at 99.6 °F or 37.6 °C. It is the least time consuming and most accurate type of body temperature measurement, being an internal measurement. But it is definitely, by far, not the most comfortable method to measure the body temperature of an individual. Lena Wong -- 1997 Standardized Result Mackowiak, P.A., Wasserman, S. S., and Levine, M. M. A Critical Appraisal of 98.6 Degrees F, the Upper Limit of the Normal Body Temperature, and Other Legacies of Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich . Journal of the American Medical Association. 268, 12 (23-30 September 1992): 1578-80.

"Our findings conflicted with Wunderlich's in that 36.8 degrees C (98.2 degrees F) rather than 37.0 degrees C (98.6 degrees F) was the mean oral temperature of our subjects …. Thirty-seven degrees centigrade (98.6 degrees F) should be abandoned as a concept relevant to clinical thermometry …." 36.8 °C "Fever: finding the right temp." Nursing 93. 23 (June 1993): 82. [Abstract Source: FirstSearch . H.W. Wilson. 1997.] "Abstract: A recent study of body temperature in 148 healthy adults revealed that only 8 percent of 700 readings were "normal", i.e., 98.6 °F or 37 °C. In addition, diurnal, sex, and racial differences were observed. It is suggested that a feverish state may not be implied unless the body temperature exceeds 99.9 °F or 37.7 °C." not 37 °C Mackowiak P.A., Worden G.

Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich and the evolution of clinical thermometry . Clinical Infectious Diseases. 18, 3 (March 1994): 458-67. [Find this paper! Not just the abstract.] [Find it!] Cutnell, John D. & Kenneth W. Johnson. Physics. 3rd ed. New York: Wiley, 1995: 392. "What is your normal body temperature? It's probably not 98.6 °F, the oft-quoted average that was determined in the nineteenth century. A recent study has reported an average temperature of 98.2 °F." 36.8 °C Shoemaker, Allen L. What's Normal? Temperature, Gender, and Heart Rate . Journal of Statistics Education. 4, 2 (1996). "One population mean that students all 'know' is the mean normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees F.

What is surprising is that recent medical research has posited that the mean normal temperature is really 98.2 degrees F!" 36.8 °C [Shoemaker supplies text files consisting of body temperature and heart rate data for 65 men and 65 women. This appears to be Mackowiak's data from the 1992 paper in JAMA . The values reported to the right are the mean values ± the standard deviation.] 98.4±0.7 °F Vital Signs . Family Internet [dead website]. Applied Medical Informatics, 1996. Age > 13 year 97.8–99.1 36.6–37.3 °C Cox, Paul. Glossary of Mathematical Mistakes [dead website]. 1998. [Citation of: Dewdney, A. K., 200% of Nothing: An Eye Opening Tour Through the Twists and Turns of Math Abuse and Innumeracy. New York: Wiley, 1993.] "For decades it was thought that the normal body temperature was 98.6 °F.

This number was calculated from a study in Germany which reported normal at 37 °C. What was not known was that this number was an average rounded to the nearest degree. In other words it was only accurate to two significant digits, not the three we have with 98.6. Scientists today know that normal is actually 98.2 plus or minus 0.6, that is to say anything in the range of 97.6° to 98.8° should be considered normal." 36.4–37.1 °C Sund-Levander, Märtha; Christina Forsberg and Lis Karin Wahren. Normal oral, rectal, tympanic and axillary body temperature in adult men and women: a systematic literature review . Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. Vol. 16 No. 2 (June 2002): 122.

"When summarizing studies with strong or fairly strong evidence the range for oral temperature was 33.2–38.2 °C, rectal: 34.4–37.8 °C, tympanic: 35.4– 37.8 °C and axillary: 35.5–37.0 °C. The range in oral temperature for men and women, respectively, was 35.7–37.7 and 33.2–38.1 °C, in rectal 36.7–37.5 and 36.8–37.1 °C, and in tympanic 35.5–37.5 and 35.7–37.5 °C." [see table below] I vaguely remember hearing that the oft-quoted healthy human body temperature of 98.6 degrees fahrenheit was a "factoid" -- a statement treated as factual that has, in fact, never been verified. I have sent students out in search of real research on this matter, but they have all come up negative. It is a surprisingly difficult assignment.

Source after source faithfully states that the temperature of a healthy human body is 98.6 °F or 37 °C -- no exceptions, end of story. The table above hints at the "truth"of the matter. The first systematic measurements of human body temperature were performed by the German physician Carl Wunderlich. In 1861 he measured the temperatures of one million healthy individuals (a sample size that seems too large to be believed). The average value was reported as 37 degrees celsius. When converted this value becomes 98.6 degreed fahrenheit. So what's the problem? Wunderlich's value has only two significant figures while the converted value has three. The last digit (the "point six" at the end) should be regarded with great suspicion. Wunderlich's converted value should really be stated as "ninety eight point something" if one is being honest. In 1992 Mackowiak, Wasserman, and Levine measured the body temperatures of 65 men and 65 women and came up with a value of 36.8 °C (98.2 °F). You can do a statistical analysis of the data yourself.

The numbers are available online at numerous websites including The Physics Factbook (see body-temperature.txt ). The findings of Sund-Levander, et al. are summarized in the table below. Vital Signs (Body Temperature, Pulse Rate, Respiration Rate, Blood Pressure) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center Vital Signs (Body Temperature, Pulse Rate, Respiration Rate, Blood Pressure) What are vital signs? Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions. The 4 main vital signs routinely monitored by healthcare providers include: Body temperature Pulse rate Breathing rate (respiration) Blood pressure (Blood pressure is not considered a vital sign, but is often measured along with the vital signs.) Vital signs are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. Vital signs can be measured in a medical setting, at home, at the site of a medical emergency, or elsewhere. What is body temperature? The normal body temperature of a person varies depending on gender, recent activity, food and fluid consumption, time of day, and, in women, the stage of the menstrual cycle.

Normal body temperature can range from 97.8° F (36.5°C) to 99°F (37.2°C) for a healthy adult. A person's body temperature can be taken in any of the following ways: Orally. Temperature can be taken by mouth using either the classic glass thermometer, or the more modern digital thermometers that use an electronic probe to measure body temperature. Rectally. Temperatures taken rectally (using a glass or digital thermometer) tend to be 0.5°F to 0.7°F higher than when taken by mouth. Arm pit (axillary). Temperatures can be taken under the arm using a glass or digital thermometer. Temperatures taken by this route tend to be 0.3°F to 0.4°F lower than those temperatures taken by mouth. By ear. A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the ear drum, which reflects the body's core temperature (the temperature of the internal organs). By skin. A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the skin on the forehead. Body temperature may be abnormal due to fever (high temperature) or hypothermia (low temperature).

A fever is indicated when body temperature rises about one degree or more over the normal temperature of 98.6°F, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Hypothermia is defined as a drop in body temperature below 95°F. Glass thermometers containing mercury According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mercury is toxic and poses a threat to the health of humans, as well as to the environment. Because of the risk of breaking, glass thermometers with mercury should be not be used. If you have a mercury thermometer, dispose of it properly in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. Contact your local health department, waste disposal authority, or fire department for information on how to properly dispose of mercury thermometers. What is the pulse rate? The pulse rate is a measurement of the heart rate, or the number of times the heart beats per minute. As the heart pushes blood through the arteries, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of the blood. Taking a pulse not only measures the heart rate, but also can indicate the following: Heart rhythm Strength of the pulse The normal pulse for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.

The pulse rate may fluctuate and increase with exercise, illness, injury, and emotions. Females ages 12 and older, in general, tend to have faster heart rates than do males. Athletes, such as runners, who do a lot of cardiovascular conditioning, may have heart rates near 40 beats per minute and experience no problems. Click Image to Enlarge How to check your pulse As the heart forces blood through the arteries, you feel the beats by firmly pressing on the arteries, which are located close to the surface of the skin at certain points of the body. The pulse can be found on the side of the neck, on the inside of the elbow, at the wrist, or in the groin. For most people, it is easiest to take the pulse at the wrist. If you use the lower neck, be sure not to press too hard, and never press on the pulses on both sides of the lower neck at the same time to prevent blocking blood flow to the brain. When taking your pulse: Using the first and second fingertips, press firmly but gently on the arteries until you feel a pulse. Begin counting the pulse when the clock's second hand is on the 12.

Count your pulse for 60 seconds (or for 15 seconds and then multiply by 4 to calculate beats per minute). When counting, do not watch the clock continuously, but concentrate on the beats of the pulse. If unsure about your results, ask another person to count for you. If your doctor has ordered you to check your own pulse and you are having trouble finding it, consult your doctor or nurse for additional instruction. What is the respiration rate? The respiration rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. The rate is usually measured when a person is at rest and simply involves counting the number of breaths for one minute by counting how many times the chest rises. Respiration rates may increase with fever, illness, and with other medical conditions. When checking respiration, it is important to also note whether a person has any trouble breathing. Normal respiration rates for an adult person at rest range from 12 to 16 breaths per minute. What is blood pressure? Blood pressure, measured with a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope by a nurse or other healthcare provider, is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls during contraction and relaxation of the heart.

Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure as the heart contracts. When the heart relaxes, the blood pressure falls. You can't take your own blood pressure unless you use an electronic blood pressure monitoring device. Electronic blood pressure monitors may also measure the heart rate, or pulse. Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure. The higher number, or systolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the body. The lower number, or diastolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart is at rest and is filling with blood. Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are recorded as "mm Hg" (millimeters of mercury). This recording represents how high the mercury column in an old-fashioned manual blood pressure device (called a mercury manometer or sphygmomanometer) is raised by the pressure of the blood. Today, your doctor's office is more likely to use a simple dial for this measurement. High blood pressure, or hypertension, directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (heart attack) and stroke (brain attack).

With high blood pressure, the arteries may have an increased resistance against the flow of blood, causing the heart to pump harder to circulate the blood. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health, high blood pressure, stage 1 for adults is defined as: 140 mm Hg to 159 mm HG systolic pressure or 90 mm Hg to 99 mm Hg diastolic pressure In an update of NHLBI guidelines for hypertension, high blood pressure, stage 2 for adults is defined as: 160 mm Hg – or higher systolic pressure or 100 mm Hg – or higher diastolic pressure Prehypertension is defined as 120 mm HG to 139 mmHG systolic pressure or What’s a dog’s normal body temperature? | Dog Care | Animal Planet What’s a dog’s normal body temperature? posted: 05/15/12 What's a dog's normal body temperature?

Mike Kemp/Tetra Images/Corbis | n Lund/Stephanie Roeser/Blend Images/Corbis | Bozena Cannizzaro/Getty Images Just because your pet may feel warm to the touch doesn't necessarily mean he has a fever. Dogs normally have a warmer body temperature than humans do. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), a temperature of 101 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 to 39.2 degrees Celsius) is typical for pooches, whereas humans' normal body temperature is just 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), with an average range of about 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit (36.1 to 37.2 degrees Celsius). Much like humans, a dog's temperature may rise or drop for various reasons, including infection, shock, inflammation, the external temperature, vaccinations or accidentally ingesting something toxic. Usually, it's nothing too serious, and you may not even notice anything's wrong with your pet. However, there are always exceptions.

If your dog's temperature falls below 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37.2 degrees Celsius) or rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), you've got a fairly serious situation on your hands, and should get him to a vet immediately. While there's no definitive sign that a dog is hypothermic (low temperature) or hyperthermic (high temperature), he may exhibit one or more of the following symptoms: lethargy, shivering, stiffness, stupor or decreased activity if it's hypothermia; excessive panting, lethargy, red gums or warm to the touch in the case of hyperthermia. So, here's the million-dollar question: How do you know for sure what your dog's temperature is? Read moreRead less Running Hot or Cold Mike Kemp/Tetra Images/Corbis | n Lund/Stephanie Roeser/Blend Images/Corbis | Bozena Cannizzaro/Getty Images It's a myth that you can tell your dog's temperature by checking out his nose; a wet nose doesn't mean all is fine, and a dry nose doesn't mean he's got a fever. The only way to know for certain is to take his temperature.

"We use the human digital thermometers at the vet school," says Dr. Sandi Sawchuk, clinical instructor at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. "The ones with the flexible end are safer." Don't use a mercury thermometer, which may break inside your dog's body, causing serious harm, or a digital ear thermometer. "Ear temperatures are unreliable in dogs due to the shape of their ear canals -- you need to be close to the eardrum for a reading," says Sawchuk. "Also, dirty ears or hairy ear canals will affect the accuracy." First, enlist the help of one other person to hold your dog's head. Then, after putting petroleum jelly on the thermometer's bulb, insert the thermometer about an inch or two into the rectum, depending on your dog's size. Hold the thermometer in place for about 60 seconds, or until the thermometer beeps, then remove gently and read. If your dog's temperature is elevated, but not dangerously high, have him drink small amounts of water regularly to stay hydrated, but never force him to drink. And certainly don't give him fever reducers designed for humans, since they may be poisonous to a canine.

If your dog's temperature is elevated due to excessive heat or exercise, this is a slightly more serious situation, and you need to act quickly to prevent his condition from progressing to heatstroke. Get him out of the sun and heat immediately, then apply cold cloths and/or ice on his body, especially the feet and ears. If your dog's temperature is low (hypothermia), keep him warm with blankets and hot water bottles, plus minimize his activity. A heating pad applied to his torso may help, too, but if you use one, make sure to wrap it in a cloth first to prevent accidental burns. Even if your pet doesn't appear sick, make sure to check in with your vet if his temperature stays elevated or low. While you may think you know what his problem is -- an ear infection, for example, or too much time playing in the snow -- there could be something else going on. Body Temperature: Healthwise Medical Information on eMedicineHealth Test Overview What is body temperature? Body temperature is a measure of the body's ability to generate and get rid of heat. The body is very good at keeping its temperature within a narrow, safe range in spite of large variations in temperatures outside the body.

When you are too hot, the blood vessels in your skin expand (dilate) to carry the excess heat to your skin's surface. You may begin to sweat, and as the sweat evaporates, it helps cool your body. When you are too cold, your blood vessels narrow (contract) so that blood flow to your skin is reduced to conserve body heat. You may start shivering, which is an involuntary, rapid contraction of the muscles. This extra muscle activity helps generate more heat. Under normal conditions, this keeps your body temperature within a narrow, safe range. Where is body temperature measured? Your body temperature can be measured in many locations on your body. The mouth, ear, armpit, and rectum are the most commonly used places. Temperature can also be measured on your forehead. What are Fahrenheit and Celsius? are calibrated in either degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or degrees Celsius (°C), depending on the custom of the region. Temperatures in the United States are often measured in degrees Fahrenheit, but the standard in most other countries is degrees Celsius. What is normal body temperature? Most people think of a "normal" body temperature as an oral temperature of 98.6°F (37°C).

This is an average of normal body temperatures. Your temperature may actually be 1°F (0.6°C) or more above or below 98.6°F (37°C). Also, your normal body temperature changes by as much as 1°F (0.6°C) throughout the day, depending on how active you are and the time of day. Body temperature is very sensitive to hormone levels and may be higher or lower when a woman is ovulating or having her menstrual period. A rectal or ear (tympanic membrane) temperature reading is slightly higher than an oral temperature reading. A temperature taken in the armpit is slightly lower than an oral temperature reading. The most accurate way to measure body temperature is to take a rectal temperature. What is a fever? In most adults, an oral temperature above 100°F (37.8°C) or a rectal or ear temperature above 101°F (38.3°C) is considered a fever. A child has a fever when his or her rectal temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. What can cause a fever? A fever may occur as a reaction to: Infection.

This is the most common cause of a fever. Infections may affect the whole body or a specific body part (localized infection). Medicines, such as antibiotics , narcotics , barbiturates , antihistamines , and many others. These are called drug fevers. Some medicines, such as antibiotics, raise the body temperature directly. Other medicines interfere with the body's ability to readjust its temperature when other factors cause the temperature to rise. Other medical conditions, such as arthritis , hyperthyroidism , and even some cancers, such as leukemia , Hodgkin's lymphoma , and liver and lung cancer . Can a low body temperature be dangerous? An abnormally low body temperature ( hypothermia ) can be serious, even life-threatening. Low body temperature may occur from cold exposure, shock , alcohol or drug use, or certain metabolic disorders, such as diabetes or hypothyroidism . A low body temperature may also be present with an infection, particularly in newborns, older adults, or people who are frail. An overwhelming infection, such as sepsis , may also cause an abnormally low body temperature. Can a high body temperature be dangerous? Heatstroke occurs when the body fails to regulate its own temperature and body temperature continues to rise.

Symptoms of heatstroke include mental changes (such as confusion, delirium, or unconsciousness) and skin that is red, hot, and dry, even under the armpits. Classic heatstroke can develop without exertion when a person is exposed to a hot environment and the body is unable to cool itself effectively. In this type of heatstroke, the body's ability to sweat and transfer the heat to the environment is reduced. A person with heatstroke may 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 develop when a person is working or exercising in a hot environment. A person with heatstroke from exertion may sweat profusely, but the body still produces more heat than it can lose. This causes the body's temperature to rise to high levels. Both types of heatstroke cause severe dehydration and can cause body organs to stop functioning. Heatstroke is a life-threatening medical emergency requiring emergency medical treatment. Why It Is Done Body temperature is checked to: Detect fever. Detect abnormally low body temperature (hypothermia) in people who have been exposed to cold.

Detect abnormally high body temperature (hyperthermia) in people who have been exposed to heat. Help monitor the effectiveness of a fever-reducing medicine. Help plan for pregnancy by determining if a woman is ovulating. How To Prepare Take your temperature several times when you are feeling well to find out what is normal for you. Check your temperature in both the morning and evening, since body temperature can vary by as much as 1°F (0.6°C) throughout the day. Wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after smoking , eating, or drinking a hot or cold liquid before taking your temperature. Also, wait at least an hour after vigorous exercise or a hot bath. Several different types of thermometers are available: Electronic thermometers are plastic and shaped like a pencil, with a display window at one end and the temperature probe at the other end. They work by measuring how well electricity travels through a wire. Electronic thermometers are used in the mouth, rectum, or armpit. They are easy to use and easy to read. If you buy an electronic thermometer, check the package for information about its accuracy. See a picture of an electronic thermometer . Ear thermometers are plastic and come in different shapes.

They use infrared energy to measure body temperature. The small cone-shaped end of the thermometer is placed in the ear, and body temperature is shown on a digital display. The results appear within seconds. Some models also show the corresponding oral and rectal readings. See a picture of an ear thermometer . Temporal artery thermometers are electronic devices that measure body temperature on the skin over an artery in the forehead (superficial temporal artery). The device has a small "cup" that is moved across the skin over the artery. Infrared energy is used to determine the temperature. When used correctly, temporal artery thermometers are accurate for measuring body temperature. 1 , 2 Disposable thermometers are thin flat pieces of plastic with colored dots and temperature markings on one end. The color of the dots shows the temperature. Disposable thermometers can be used in the mouth or rectum. A patch form can be used on a baby's skin to measure temperature continuously for 48 hours. These thermometers are safe, but they are not as accurate as electronic or ear thermometers. They do not contain glass, latex, or mercury. You can reuse the thermometer during an illness and then throw it away. Forehead thermometers use skin temperature to determine body temperature.

They are thin pieces of plastic with numbers on them. You press the strip against a person's forehead, and the temperature makes some numbers change colors or light up. These thermometers are not very accurate. Pacifier thermometers are shaped like a baby's pacifier but have a display that shows the temperature. You place the pacifier in your child's mouth to measure temperature. These thermometers may take longer to get a reading and are not as accurate as other types. Glass thermometers containing mercury are no longer recommended. If you have a glass thermometer, contact your local health department for instructions on how to dispose of it safely. If you break a glass thermometer, call your local poison control center immediately. How It Is Done Before taking a body temperature, review the instructions for how to use your specific thermometer. General methods of taking a temperature are described below. How to take an oral temperature Oral is the most common method of taking a temperature. To get an accurate temperature, the person must be able to breathe through the nose. If this is impossible because of a stuffy nose or lack of cooperation, use the rectum, ear, or armpit to take the temperature.

Place the digital or disposable thermometer under the tongue, just to one side of the center, and close the 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 putting it away. How to take a rectal temperature This is the location to measure body temperature most accurately. It is recommended for babies, small children, and people who cannot hold a thermometer safely in their mouths. It is also used when getting the most accurate measurement is essential. Apply a lubricant jelly or petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, on the bulb of the thermometer so that you can insert it easily. When measuring the temperature of babies or small children, turn the child facedown on your lap or on a flat covered or padded surface, such as a bed. 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 and gently insert the bulb end of the rectal thermometer about 0.5 in.

(1.25 cm) to 1 in. (2.5 cm) into the anal canal with your other hand. Don't force it into the rectum. Hold the thermometer in place with two fingers close to the anal opening (not near the end of the thermometer). Pressing the child's buttocks together will help keep the thermometer in place. Leave the thermometer in place for the required amount of time. Some digital thermometers give a series of short beeps when the reading is done. Time yourself with a watch or clock. Remove the thermometer and read it. Clean a digital thermometer with cool, soapy water and rinse it off before putting it away. Do not use a thermometer to take an oral temperature after it has been used to take a rectal temperature. Why Is 98.6 F Our 'Normal' Body Temperature? Why Is 98.6 F Our 'Normal' Body Temperature? By Bjorn Carey , Life's Little Mysteries Managing Editor | January 5, 2011 04:52pm ET MORE Credit: nray | Dreamstime For most folks, a thermometer reading around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) means their body temperature is normal.

Now, two scientists have an idea why our bodies, as well as those of most other mammals, consistently run at that temperature : A toasty body temperature helps keep nasty fungal infections at bay. "One of the mysteries about humans and other advanced mammals has been why they are so hot compared with other animals," said study co-author Arturo Casadevall, professor and chair of microbiology and immunology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva. "This study helps to explain why mammalian temperatures are all around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit." Casdevall's previous work showed that the number of fungal species that can thrive and, therefore, infect an animal declines by 6 percent for every 1.8 degree F (1 C) rise in temperature. This, he claimed, is why reptiles , amphibians and other cold-blooded animals are susceptible to tens of thousands of fungal species, whereas only a few hundred types of fungi can harm humans and other mammals.

In Casadevall's recent study, published in the journal mBio, he and his collaborator, biologist Aviv Bergman, also of Einstein College of Medicine, analyzed the fungus-fighting benefits gained by a maintaining a body temperature between 86 and 104 F (30 and 40 C) against the costs it takes a lot of food to keep the fire burning that hot. The optimal temperature, it turned out, was 98.06 F (36.7 C), just a hair away from what we consider "normal" for humans. (It might be even closer to normal, given that many scientists now consider 98.2 F (37.77 C) to be the true normal temperature for humans.) There is a range around the optimal calculation where different mammals have settled depending on their specific needs, but most advanced mammals have temperatures in the 96.8 to 104 F range (36 to 40 C), Casadevall told Life's Little Mysteries. For example, at 104 degrees Fahrenheit, rabbits are much hotter than humans and other mammals are a bit colder.

One downside of a higher body temperature is of the amount of food it takes to keep the fire burning. Still, maintaining a warmer body could have provided the critical edge mammals needed to outlast the dinosaurs. The asteroid reset things by killing off dinosaurs and large animals, Casadevall said. The mammals were then able to become the predominant animals (beating the surviving reptiles) because they were warm-blooded, and thus not susceptible to many fungal diseases. What is normal body temperature? Is my body temperature normal? Normal body temperature Is there a normal body temperature? Most people think of 'normal' body temperature as 37C (98.6F), measured using a thermometer in the mouth . However, the concept of there being a normal body temperature is somewhat misleading. In fact normal body temperature can vary according to a wide range of factors including a person's age, the time of day and whether someone is active or not. The 'normal' benchmark for body temperature was established by a 19th century German physician called Dr Carl Wunderlich. He is credited with taking temperature readings from thousands of patients, which led him to propose that 37C was normal body temperature. So, what is normal body temperature?

Some studies have disputed Dr Wunderlich's findings. For instance, a 1992 evaluation of his work in the US, and based on 148 participants, found that 36.8C was a more accurate figure. Normal body temperature also depends on where the temperature reading is taken. For instance, a reading from the armpit will be about 0.5C lower than the body's core temperature. Research from Winthrop University in the US published in 2006 found that older people have lower temperatures and that, even when ill, their bodies may never reach temperatures that would be regarded as fever. The NHS says that a normal temperature is around 37C (98.6F), although it depends on: The person

Question: In degrees centigrade, what is the normal body temperature?
Answer: 37