You may feel ill and take your temperature assuming you have a fever. Instead, your thermometer reads 96°F (35.55°C). This lower-than-average temperature could occur for several reasons. You may have an illness that corresponds to low temperatures. You may have taken your temperature incorrectly. Age may play a factor. Finally, you may have a health condition causing the lower body temperature. Show Understanding body temperature is important to making sense of your 96-degree reading. Long ago, doctors considered 98.6°F (37°C) to be a “normal” temperature. That has changed in recent years. A normal temperature is now considered to be a bit lower than that, and it depends on your age and the method you use to measure your temperature. One 2019 research review looked at 36 prior studies about body temperature and found that adults less than 60 years old had a average temperature of 98.04°F (36.68°C). Adults more than 60 years old had a average temperature of 97.7°F (36.5°C). The study also examined body temperatures taken with different methods. These average temperatures by method were:
Average temperatures for newborns and children are also different:
Certain illnesses, or incorrect temperature readings, could factor into why your thermometer reads 96°F (35.55°C), but you feel sick. Low body temperature could also be a symptom of a serious illness like hypothermia or sepsis, but you’d likely have severe symptoms. Incorrect temperature takingOne common reason your thermometer may read 96°F (35.55°C) is because you took your temperature incorrectly.
HypothermiaHypothermia occurs when your body is at 95°F (35°C) or lower in adults. For children and infants, it can occur when their temperature is lower than a reading in the normal range. Hypothermia is a very serious medical condition that can lead to death if not treated immediately by medical professionals. This condition can occur because of exposure to cold weather, submersion in cold water, prolonged time in cold and wet clothes, or a cold home environment. An early symptom of hypothermia is shivering. Hypothermia requires immediate medical attention, so you should call for emergency help if you suspect you have hypothermia. If you have to wait for medical help try to warm yourself up with blankets or a hot drink. SepsisA drop in body temperature could be the symptom of sepsis. This occurs when your body starts fighting itself instead of an infection. It can damage to your tissues, shutdown your organs, and even lead to death. Other symptoms of sepsis include:
Seek immediate medical help if you think you might have sepsis. Keeping babies in a normal temperature range is very important to avoid hypothermia or other illnesses. Some factors that could influence a baby’s temperature include:
Take your baby’s temperature using the same method every time. Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature, and let the infant warm up if they have been brought in from the cold. The best temperature-taking methods for infants and toddlers are:
There are other reasons your thermometer may read 96°F (35.55°C). HypothyroidismHypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid is not functioning properly. It does not create enough of your thyroid hormone for your body. Therefore, you may experience:
You can take medication to improve your thyroid’s hormone production. Advanced ageYou may have a lower body temperature as you age. You may have less body fat in your arms and legs, dry skin, and a slowed metabolism as you get older. These can all contribute to a lower body temperature. MedicationsTaking certain medications could lower your temperature. These include beta-blockers and some antipsychotics. Exposure to cold temperaturesYour temperature may be low if you have been outside in cold weather. Wear warm enough clothes and keep your head covered in cold weather. Avoid getting wet in cold weather. Call a healthcare professional if your temperature is 96°F (35.55°C) and you feel sick. You can describe your symptoms over the phone. They may offer a diagnosis or ask you to make an office visit. You need immediate medical treatment if your temperature is dropping because of hypothermia or sepsis. Seek care if your temperature is declining and you have:
Infants with a low body temperature should be seen by a doctor right away. Other symptoms of hypothermia in infants include red or discolored and cold skin, sleepiness, and disinterest in feeding. There are several reasons you feel ill and have a thermometer reading of 96°F (35.55°C). You may have a serious illness like hypothermia or sepsis that requires immediate attention. You may have taken your temperature incorrectly. Or you may have another underlying factor contributing to the lower temperature like advanced age, medication use, or hypothyroidism. Is it OK to have a temperature of 96?Sometimes a normal, healthy adult has a low body temperature, such as 96°F (36°C). If the person with the low body temperature is not ill, does not have any other problems, and is not an infant or an older adult, then evaluation usually is not needed.
Why is body temp 96?Incorrect temperature taking
One common reason your thermometer may read 96°F (35.55°C) is because you took your temperature incorrectly. Make sure you are following the manufacturer's instructions for your thermometer. Consider any factors that could have led to an inaccurate temperature.
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