What is considered a low temperature?
Normal body temperature is not one point, but a range that changes throughout the day and depends on the location of measurement. In the armpit the values are lower than in the mouth and rectum, and in the morning the temperature is minimal. In women, it fluctuates depending on the phase of the cycle; in older people, on average, it is lower than in young people. Therefore, 36.0 °C when you are feeling well usually does not mean anything. Clinically significant hypothermia is considered to be a temperature below 35 °C, confirmed by correct measurement.
- Mild hypothermia: 32–35 °C
- Moderate: 28–32 °C
- Severe: below 28 °C
- You need to measure with a dry thermometer, not immediately after going outside or showering
- Hold the electronic thermometer in the armpit until the beep sounds and then a little more.
External reasons: heat loss
The most obvious reason is prolonged exposure to the cold, especially in wet clothes and in the wind. Alcohol dilates blood vessels in the skin and creates a deceptive feeling of warmth, accelerating heat loss. The risk is higher in older people who have weaker vascular reactions and feelings of cold, in exhausted people and in unconscious people. Newborns lose heat especially quickly due to their large body surface area relative to their mass, so it is important to dress them correctly and not leave them undressed.
- Cold, wind, wet clothes
- Alcohol intoxication
- Prolonged immobility after a fall or injury
- Old age and exhaustion
- Newborns and premature babies
- Surgery and anesthesia
Internal reasons: when little heat is generated
A persistently low temperature without cold forces you to check your metabolism. With hypothyroidism, all processes slow down: chilliness, drowsiness, dry skin, constipation, and weight gain appear. Anemia and iron deficiency reduce oxygen delivery and are accompanied by pallor and weakness. Low temperature occurs with adrenal insufficiency, severe malnutrition and anorexia nervosa, with severe exhaustion due to chronic diseases. Medicines can also reduce the temperature: sedatives, some blood pressure medications, anesthesia.
- Hypothyroidism
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Exhaustion and eating disorders
- Low blood sugar
- Side effects of sedatives and blood pressure-lowering drugs
Low temperature during infection is an alarming sign
Usually the infection causes a fever, but in the elderly, in people with diabetes, cirrhosis, kidney failure and reduced immunity, severe inflammation can manifest itself on the contrary - a drop in temperature. Such hypothermia is included in the criteria for severe infection and is often combined with low blood pressure, rapid breathing, and confusion. Therefore, a normal or low temperature in a weakened person with a cough, abdominal or lower back pain should not be reassuring: a doctor’s examination is required on the same day.
- Combination with low blood pressure and rapid pulse
- Shortness of breath and rapid breathing
- Confusion, unusual behavior
- A sharp decrease in the amount of urine
- Marbled cold skin
What to do and what tests to take
In case of hypothermia, a person is transferred to a warm place, wet clothes are removed, covered, and a warm sweet drink is given if he is conscious. Do not rub it sharply or immerse it in hot water. If you feel lethargic and have a temperature below 35°C, call an ambulance at 103. If you are talking about persistently low numbers without cold, they start with an examination by a therapist and basic tests. Further treatment is aimed at the cause: replacement therapy for hypothyroidism, iron supplements for anemia, nutrition and observation for exhaustion.
- Warm, cover, give warm drink
- Do not rub with snow or alcohol, do not immerse in hot water.
- Take TSH, complete blood count, ferritin, glucose
- If adrenal insufficiency is suspected, cortisol
- Review your medications with your doctor
- If consciousness is impaired, call 103 for help.
