Think your temperature should be 98.6?

[papaof2]

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2809098

Question Can personalized temperature norms be defined to improve the clinical utility of oral temperature measurements?

Findings In this cross-sectional study, machine learning was applied to 618 306 adult outpatient encounters to define the usual or mean “normal” temperature as 36.64 °C. Using individual and temporal characteristics, the range of mean temperatures for the coolest to the warmest individuals was 36.24 °C (97.23F) to 36.89 °C (98.40F).

Meaning These findings suggest that age, sex, height, weight, and time of day are factors that contribute to variations in individualized normal temperature ranges.

More details in the link at the top and even more details if you click on "Full Text" and sign up.

[feralferret]

No surprise. My "normal" has run around 97.4 to 97.6 for most of my life. If I'm at 98.6 I'm running a mild fever.

[Alpha Six Actual]

Mine runs 97.3-6…..try convincing some medico that 98.6 can mean diviticulitis…they missed it awhile back and I went septic…

[feralferret]

Oct 21, 2023 12:04:28 GMT -6 Alpha Six Actual said:

Mine runs 97.3-6…..try convincing some medico that 98.6 can mean diviticulitis…they missed it awhile back and I went septic…

That's easy for me to believe.  Most newer doctors tend to be all "book smarts" and no common sense.

[kansasterri]

My temp used to vary from 97.6 to 99

I am told that is normal

[papaof2]

That 98.6 was determined back when most people actually actually did physical labor and the average lifespan was appreciably less than today. A 20-something picking cotton would have run at a lot higher horsepower than a 70-something reading the forum ;-)