a. Temperature is measured on the Fahrenheit (F) or the Celsius (C) scale.
The average, normal, oral temperature for an adult is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.0
degrees Celsius (old term: centigrade).
b. You can convert Fahrenheit to Celsius or vice versa. To convert Fahrenheit
to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply
by 9/5 and add 32. See Table 4-2 for a conversion chart.
CELSIUS
FAHRENHEIT
34.0 C
93.2 F
35.0 C
95.0 F
36.0 C
96.8 F
36.5 C
97.7F
37.0 C
98.6 F
37.5C
99.5 F
38.0 C
100.4 F
38.5 C
101.3 F
39.0 C
102.2 F
40.0 C
104.0 F
41.0 C
105.5 F
42.0 C
107.6 F
43.0 C
109.4F
44.0 C
111.2 F
Table 4-2. Celsius/Fahrenheit equivalent temperature.
c. Body temperature may wary by 0.5F either way and still be within normal
limits.
4-7.
FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE NORMAL BODY TEMPERATURE
a. Individual metabolism differs. An increase in the emotional state of the patient
may increase the temperature.
b. Body temperature is usually lowest in the morning and highest in the late
afternoon or evening.
c. Normal temperature for infants and children is usually higher than the normal
adult temperature. At birth, heat-regulating mechanisms are not fully developed, so a
marked fluctuation in body temperature may occur during the infant's first year of life.
MD0906
4-6