GENERAL
Temperature
Human temperature is ordinarily considered normal when the oral thermometer registers 98.6. A variation in temperature is normal through the day for all persons because of such factors as type of work, time of eating and way of life. Generally, temperature is lowest in the early morning, at about 6 A.M., when the temperature reading may be 97 degrees or lower. It then slowly rises during the day to reach its maximum at about 5 P.M. This daily temperature rise seems to be mainly due to food and muscular exercise, and is referred to as the diurnal rhythm.
In elderly people, temperature generally tends to run somewhat higher; therefore, a continued elevation of temperature up to a half degree, in a person of sixty years or more, in the absence of any discernible disease, would be very common and have very little significance. When an oral thermometer cannot be used, as in some mouth diseases, the temperature may be taken in the rectum or axilla (armpit). These temperatures run a degree higher than oral temperatures, but both are very accurate and are easily taken.
Elevated temperature
Human oral temperature of 99 degrees or more should be investigated for its cause. The presence of a temperature producing febrile disease, such as a cold, sore throat, or an infected ingrown toenail, etc., well may explain the temperature elevation. If no obvious reason can be found for a fever which persists for several days, a doctor should be consulted. It is obvious that an elevated temperature of several degrees could be a matter of greater concern and a valid reason to call the physician without delay.
An example of an unexplained daily fever would be the mild temperature elevation caused by over-activity of the thyroid gland, and only a competent M.D. would recognize this disease. Unexplained, continued fever, therefore, is justification for a trip to the doctor’s office.
A lowered temperature
Oral temperature that is significantly lowered is almost always attended by unmistakable and obvious disease. However, in the absence of evident disease, a low temperature has little importance.