low body temperature 97
Jessica Young
Updated on June 26, 2026
Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F (37 C). Hypothermia (hi-poe-THUR-me-uh) occurs as your body temperature falls below 95 F (35 C).
Is a 97 temperature OK?
Normal Range
For a typical adult, body temperature can be anywhere from 97 F to 99 F. Babies and children have a little higher range: 97.9 F to 100.4 F. Your temperature doesn’t stay the same all day, and it will vary throughout your lifetime, too.
Why is my temperature 97 degrees?
The Average Human Body Temperature
When in good health, the human body’s normal temperature is typically between 97 to 99 degrees. If your body temperature is above 100, you may have a fever caused by a virus or bacterial infection.
Can Covid cause a low temperature?
A fever is one of the common symptoms of COVID-19, but you can be infected with the coronavirus and have a cough or other symptoms with no fever, or a very low-grade one — especially in the first few days. Keep in mind that it is also possible to have the coronavirus with minimal symptoms or even no symptoms at all.
Can a virus cause low body temperature?
When you have an infection, your body’s temperature usually rises as it tries to fight off the bug causing the infection. Interestingly, some people see their body temperature go down (hypothermia) instead of up. This is why any change, high or low, can be a sign of sepsis.
Why is my temperature so low?
Temperatures that are lower than 98 degrees may indicate that something’s wrong. Low body temperature can be caused by medical conditions, including an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
What illnesses can cause low body temperature?
These conditions include hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, hypopituitarism, shock, sepsis, anorexia nervosa, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord injury. Medications that can impair a person’s response to cold include sedatives, anesthetics, opioids, phenothiazine antipsychotics and clonidine.
What should I do if my body temperature is low?
Use warm, dry compress (only on the neck, chest wall, or groin and not on the arms or legs) Do not apply direct heat (no hot water or placing a hot-water bag on the person’s body) Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when necessary (when breathing and pulse is undetectable)
Is 96.8 a low-grade fever?
Some experts define a low-grade fever as a temperature that falls between 99.5°F (37.5°C) and 100.3°F (38.3°C). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person with temperature at or above 100.4°F (38°C) is considered to have a fever.
What is the minimum body temperature for COVID-19?
Infants: rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Toddlers and children: temperature over 102.2°F (39°C). Adults: temperature of 103 F (39.4 C) or higher — potentially a sign of serious COVID-19 disease.
What is the body temperature for COVID-19?
Fever (a raised temperature) is a common symptom of COVID-19, affecting more than two thirds of people with the disease. Current health guidelines advise that anyone with a temperature of 37.8°C or more should be considered to be potentially infected with COVID-19 and should self-isolate.
Can a low temperature mean you are sick?
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.
What is Wilson’s temperature Syndrome?
Wilson’s (temperature) syndrome, also called Wilson’s thyroid syndrome or WTS, is a term used in alternative medicine to attribute various common and non-specific symptoms to abnormally low body temperature and impaired conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3), despite normal thyroid function tests. E.
What are the five signs of an infection?
Signs of Infection
Increased pain or swelling.A foul smell from the wound.Pus-like drainage, fever or chills.Increasing redness around the wound.Red streaks moving away from the wound.