Doggone it, Adrian. Don't you have anything better than this wishy-washy
answer????
Just jokin'. That was most excellent--thanks!
Jim
Adrian Jadic wrote:
>
> I "consulted" our family physician -my wife- and she related this answer to the
>list: She handed me the Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 14 th edition. I
>quote: (page 84)
> ___
>
> Whereas the "normal" body temperature in humans has been said to be 37 C (98.6 F) on
>the basis of Wunderlich's original observations more than 120 years ago, the overall
>mean oral temperature for healthy individuals aged 18 to 40 years is actually 36.8 +-
>0.4 C ( 98.2 +- 0.7 F) with a nadir at 6 AM and a zenith at 4 to 6 PM. The maximum
>oral temperature at 6 AM is 37.2 C (98.9 F) and the maximum oral temperature at 4 PM
>is 37.7 C (99.9 F) both values defining the 99th percentile for healthy individuals.
>Given these criteria an AM temperature of greater than 37.2 C (98.9 F) or a PM
>temperature of greater than 37.7 C (99.9 F) would define a fever.
> Rectal temperatures are generally 0.6 C (1 F) higher.
> ...........
> The normal 24 h circadian temperature rhythm is associated with temperatures varying
>typically by 0.5 C (0.9 F) but occasionally by as much as 1 C between the AM nadir
>and the PM peak.
>
> .....snip
>
> And it goes on for pages. It also mentiones that Menstruating women have differences
>before and after ovulation and that elderly people have lower daily averages while
>children and babies have higher ones.
>
> Hope this helps. Personally, I think that, for non-doctors, given the complicated
>scientific explanation 37 is a nice even number easy to remember and if you have 38
>at anytime of day you should start taking Tylenol or see a doctor.
>
> Adrian
....
--
Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!"
James R. Frysinger, CAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/
10 Captiva Row e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Charleston, SC 29407 phone/FAX: 843.225.6789
