Your Temperature: A Window on Your Health

When you visit your health care provider, someone in the office takes your blood pressure, pulse and temperature. Your temperature is just as important as the first two vital signs. All three give your provider a sense of how your body is functioning.

Your temperature changes a little through the day. Normal temperature is 98.6 degrees F, but it can range from 96.5 to 99.0 degrees. It's usually lower in the morning and a bit higher in the evening, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Your temperature also varies with the activities you do.

A fever -- a temperature of 1 degree or more above normal -- is a sign that there's a medical problem that needs attention. Mild fevers of 99 to 101 degrees usually indicate a minor infection. A high fever of 103 degrees or more indicates a potentially dangerous infection, the AAFP says.

For a mild or low-grade fever, you may not need to call your health care provider. The AAFP recommends treating a fever only if you feel uncomfortable. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin are all effective, but children should not be given aspirin. Call your provider if the fever persists or if you feel uncomfortable.

A fever reaching 101 to 104 degrees is a mid-range fever. If your fever gets this high and you're not feeling well, it's probably time to call your provider. Children younger than 3 months old who develop a fever should be seen immediately to make certain there's no serious underlying problem, the AAFP says.

Anyone with a temperature of 104 degrees or higher should see a provider, the AAFP says. These fevers can be brought on by a serious illness, such as meningitis.

Your provider will look at other symptoms to help diagnose the cause of your fever. If you look jaundiced, the fever may mean hepatitis. Coughs and fever may mean bronchitis or pneumonia. A fever could indicate a sinus infection or even an infection brought on by a dental problem. Your provider may ask you what medications you take, because some medications can cause a fever.

There are a number of ways to take a temperature. When reporting a temperature to a provider, it's important to mention how it was taken. Rectal temperatures run nearly a degree higher than those taken by mouth. Thermometers placed under the arm usually run about one degree lower than oral temperatures.

It's best to wait at least 15 minutes after drinking hot or cold liquids before taking an oral temperature. But while temperatures are taken orally most often, the rectal method gives the most accurate reading. Any rectal temperature over 100.4 degrees F is a fever.