What to do if the temperature is 37 ° С

For starters, the important thing: the temperature of 37 ° C is completely normal. The notorious 36, 6 ° C, which is considered to be a reference indicator, is simply the arithmetic average of the healthy body temperature range: What Is (and Isn’t) Normal? temperature. For an adult, the lower limit of the norm is considered to be 36.1 ° С, the upper one is 37.2 ° С (according to other data, Measured values and frequency of measurement, even 37.4 ° С). If, when measuring under the arm, the thermometer shows you a number within these limits, then most likely you are in perfect order. Oral, rectal, or ear temperatures may be higher.

However, there is an important nuance. It's one thing if temperatures around 37 ° C are familiar to you. And it is completely different if you usually have 36, 6 ° С, but in the last few days (or even weeks) the thermometer shows 37 ° С or a little more.

In this case, we can assume that something is wrong with your body. However, it is not necessary. The temperature fluctuating around 37 ° C can have both completely innocent and dangerous reasons. Let's start with the first ones.

When the temperature of 37 ° C is not dangerous

The thermometer can stably read about or slightly above 37 ° C if you measure the temperature in the following Vital Signs situations (Body Temperature, Pulse Rate, Respiration Rate, Blood Pressure).

1. In the middle of the menstrual cycle (for women)

An increase in temperature by 0.5-1 ° C is one of the key signs of the onset of ovulation Body Temperature. This is fine.

2. Immediately after training

Exercise increases blood circulation and warms up the body. Even after sweating and taking a shower, we do not immediately cool down. It takes the body about an hour to return to normal temperatures.

3. After a walk in hot weather

In this case, overheating is likely. Again, you need to give the body time to cool down.

4. In the evening

Body temperature floats throughout the day. It is minimal in the morning, and by about 6:00 pm it reaches the peak of Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition, which, as a rule, is higher than the morning reading by 0, 2–0, 5 ° С.

5. When you're worried, you're stressed

Due to the emotional state, there are also increased values of Psychogenic fever: how psychological stress affects the body temperature in the clinical population on the thermometer. There is even a special term for this phenomenon: psychogenic temperature. When you calm down, it will subside.

6. When communicating with a person you like

Are these exciting social contacts also hot or not? Thermal reactions to social contact cause a slight increase in temperature.

7. If you start taking a new medicine

There are medications that at the beginning of the course can provoke a slight increase in temperature. This condition is called Drug fever.

When a temperature of 37 ° C speaks of diseases

But, let's say, you are not in love, you are not nervous, you are not tense, you are not experiencing ovulation, and you measure your temperature exclusively in the morning. In this case, a stable warming up of the body to 37 ° C and above may signal a latent disease.

Here are the common reasons that cause subfebrile (that is, somewhat elevated relative to the norm, but not reaching Measured values and frequency of measurement 38 ° C) temperature.

1. Respiratory infection

In most cases, the symptoms of a cold are obvious, but sometimes it can run in a lubricated form - without a pronounced runny nose and sore throat. Nevertheless, the body fights viruses, and the subfebrile temperature speaks exactly about this. It is possible to assume that the reason for the slight increase in the thermometer readings is precisely SARS, if it happened during the cold season and the cold season.

During a COVID-19 pandemic, temperatures of 37 ° C or so can speak Coronavirus Symptoms: Frequently Asked Questions about coronavirus infection.

Consider this and carefully monitor the symptoms in order to see a doctor in time.

As a rule, with a cold and a mild course of COVID-19, the temperature of 37 ° C lasts no longer than 4-7 days. If you have had it for more than a week, you need to consider other reasons.

What to do about it. Try to treat a cold or other viral infection: drink plenty of fluids, rest, breathe fresh air.

2. Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Most often, diseases of the 7 signs and symptoms not to ignore of the urinary tract (cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, pyelonephritis) make themselves felt with a noticeable burning sensation or pain when urinating. But sometimes there are almost no symptoms: for example, a slightly darkened urine and an increased urge to use the toilet. Listen to yourself.

What to do about it. If you have the slightest suspicion of a UTI, see your urologist as soon as possible. You can't hesitate and wait for it to go away: such infections can develop into severe inflammation or kidney abscess.

3. Tuberculosis

This is an infection that can be easily overlooked early on. At first, tuberculosis has practically no symptoms, except perhaps for weakness, fatigue and that very subfebrile temperature 7 signs and symptoms not to ignore.

What to do about it. First, go to the fluorography. Then consult with a therapist. He will either rule out TB or refer you to a specialist.

4. Problems with the thyroid gland

In particular, we are talking about Subacute Thyroiditis - inflammation of the thyroid gland. A slight increase in body temperature can be one of the symptoms of this disease. Others - increased fatigue, muscle pain, some soreness when touching the neck in the thyroid region.

What to do about it. Take a blood test for thyroid hormones and discuss the results with a therapist or endocrinologist.

5. Latent autoimmune diseases

Chronic autoimmune diseases - multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus - are often accompanied by Autoimmune Disease pH and temperature by a slight increase in temperature. This is due to the fact that such disorders cause systemic inflammation in many organs and tissues.

What to do about it. Unfortunately, autoimmune diseases can be difficult to recognize: their symptoms can overlap with dozens of other pathologies. Therefore, if you are worried about the prolonged temperature of 37 ° C, for which you cannot find an explanation, be sure to contact a therapist. To accurately diagnose the disease, you will have to take tests and undergo other examinations.

6. Cancer

Low-grade fever is not typical for cancer. But still, 7 signs and symptoms not to ignore can occur in some cancers, such as lymphoma or leukemia. In this case, additional symptoms are most often present: prolonged weakness, lethargy, incomprehensible painful sensations throughout the body, increased sweating, weight loss for no apparent reason.

What to do about it. If the fever is accompanied by at least some of the listed symptoms, immediately contact a therapist! To rule out cancer, your doctor will ask you to have blood and urine tests, x-rays or CT scans, and possibly a biopsy.

7. Chronic infection

It can be 7 signs and symptoms not to ignore anything, even caries. The immune system reacts to the presence of viruses and bacteria in the body with an increase in temperature.

What to do about it. Undergo an examination by the main doctors: therapist, ENT, surgeon, dentist, urologist, gynecologist. If any violations are found, it is imperative to treat them. Naturally, as the specialist says.

8. Consequences of COVID-19

Most Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 people carry the coronavirus infection easily and recover within a couple of Living with Covid-19 weeks. But not all.

According to British statistics The prevalence of long COVID symptoms and COVID-19 complications, one in five people who have had COVID-19 symptoms persist for at least 5 weeks. Every 10th - for 12 weeks and longer. This long-term painful condition is called chronic coronavirus syndrome.

Frequent fluctuations in temperature from normal to subfebrile and vice versa are one of the common consequences of COVID-19, along with weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, tachycardia (rapid heart rate) and problems with concentration.

What to do about it. It is not clear yet. Scientists do not yet know what causes chronic COVID-19. Perhaps Long haulers: Why some people experience long-term coronavirus symptoms, the coronavirus lingers in the body even after recovery and causes constant inflammation, to which the immune system reacts with an increase in temperature. Or maybe the immune system after a collision with a new infection is on such a platoon that it cannot come to its senses for a long time - and signals this with various failures.

Today, patients with chronic coronavirus syndrome are treated mainly symptomatically with Long-term effects of coronavirus (long COVID). So, the doctor can give recommendations or prescribe medications that will help cope with tachycardia, reduce pain, and relieve anxiety.

If a slightly elevated temperature is the only thing that worries you, and it does not cause much discomfort, you may just need to wait it out. The body needs time to recover.

This material was first published in October 2018. In February 2021, we updated the text.