36.8°C (98.24°F): Anything Above in Human Body May be Fever

As we know, 36.8° Celsius or 98.24° Fahrenheit is the normal temperature of human body. These are the exact figures, but most of take them to be 37° Celsius or 98° Fahrenheit. A medical use thermometer for measuring human body temperature is often calibrated with Fahrenheit units. Therefore, a reading above 98.24° Fahrenheit on your thermometer would indicate high fever.

High fever is a condition in which an organism’s body gets heated up beyond its normal temperature. This could happen because of external factors. Sometimes even body raises its own temperature as a defense mechanism against pathogens and other conditions.

Facts About Fever

1. Normal body temperature can range between 36.5°C (97.7°F) to 37.5°C (99.5°F). Some people may have a normal temperature which is slightly higher than the average 98.24° Fahrenheit.
2. Hypothalamus, a part of the brain, is responsible for controlling the body temperature.
3. Human body temperature slightly varies throughout the day.
4. Common infections such as colds and gastroenteritis are the most common causes of fever.
5. Opposite of fever (i.e. body temperature higher than normal) is hypothermia (i.e. body temperature lower than normal)
6. Temperature can be measured from various parts of the body:
   1. Mouth: most commonly human body temperature is measured from person’s mouth.
   2. Rectum: measured temperature will be 0.5 to 0.7°F higher than the reading taken from mouth.
   3. Armpit: measured temperature will be 0.3 to 0.4°F lower than the reading taken from mouth.

Normal Human Body Temperature

There is no universal normal human body temperature. It varies a little from person to person and also depends on the age of the person.

Normal Body Temperature for a Baby

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that for a healthy human baby the normal body temperature (measured in rectum) is between 97°F and 100.3°F.

Normal Body Temperature for Children

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics normal body temperature for a human child is between 97°F and 100.4°F (36°C to 38°C degrees Celsius).

Normal Body Temperature for Adults

Normal body temperature in human adults, if measured in the mouth, is about 36.8°C (98.2°F). If temperature is taken in armpit then the normal reading should be around 36.5°C (97.7°F). Normal body temperature in body cavities like rectum, vagina, or in the ear is about 37.5°C (99.5°F).