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Thread: 98.6 Degrees Fahrenheit Isn't the Average Anymore

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    98.6 Degrees Fahrenheit Isn't the Average Anymore

    -Nearly 150 years ago, a German physician analyzed a million temperatures from 25,000 patients and concluded that normal human-body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

    That standard has been published in numerous medical texts and helped generations of parents judge the gravity of a child's illness.

    But at least two dozen modern studies have concluded the number is too high.

    The findings have prompted speculation that the pioneering analysis published in 1869 by Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich was flawed.

    Or was it?

    In a new study, researchers from Stanford University argue that Wunderlich's number was correct at the time but is no longer accurate because the human body has changed.

    Today, they say, the average normal human-body temperature is closer to...

    98.6 Degrees Fahrenheit Isn’t the Average Anymore - WSJ

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    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by krystian View Post
    -Nearly 150 years ago, a German physician analyzed a million temperatures from 25,000 patients and concluded that normal human-body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

    That standard has been published in numerous medical texts and helped generations of parents judge the gravity of a child's illness.

    But at least two dozen modern studies have concluded the number is too high.

    The findings have prompted speculation that the pioneering analysis published in 1869 by Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich was flawed.

    Or was it?

    In a new study, researchers from Stanford University argue that Wunderlich's number was correct at the time but is no longer accurate because the human body has changed.

    Today, they say, the average normal human-body temperature is closer to...

    98.6 Degrees Fahrenheit Isn't the Average Anymore - WSJ
    Can't read the story unless subscribed. So what is the new temperature?

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    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fuego View Post
    Can't read the story unless subscribed. So what is the new temperature?
    Found it in another article: "Today, a temperature of 97.5 may be closer to 'normal' than the traditional 98.6." I have always noticed whenever I wonder if I have a temperature and don't, mine is normally under 98.6.

  4. #4
    Mr C and I are both usually under 98. It is a recent development for me.

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    Senior Member Highly Favoured's Avatar
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    I know that 99.x is low grade fever for me, but I never thought about what was normal.

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    I'm normally under 98.6.

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    Frozen Chosen A.J.'s Avatar
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    My normal temp is well under the "traditional" ... I believe it's usually 96.something.

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