# What's the opposite of a fever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 8, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663 "2003-02-08T05:18:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/1 "2003-02-08T05:18:54Z")
I’m sure this is a dumbass question, but here goes: I’ve got a nasty head cold, the usual symptoms. This afternoon, I was getting chills & shivers, and figured I was probably running a fever. I checked my temperature and it was **97.2**. Huh? An anti-fever? I don’t recall ever running a low temperature. Is this unusual? ---
**Author:** ![vertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3ec8ea/32.png) [@vertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vertigo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/2 "2003-02-08T05:44:45Z")
Hypothermia, if I am not mistaken. But that has to do with your core temp going too low and is quite dangerous. Sounds like you need to get a more accurate place to take your temp or a better thermometer. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/3 "2003-02-08T06:05:33Z")
Nah, the thermometer is digital and has been fairly spot-on in the past. We bought it to check our kids’ temperature, and it has matched up fairly closely with a traditional thermometer when I’ve compared them. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/4 "2003-02-08T06:13:55Z")
You might have pneumonia. You should probably get your medical advice from a professional medical service provider, perhaps a licensed physician. Tris ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/5 "2003-02-08T06:52:33Z")
**Trisk** , I’m not really asking for medical advice per se, e.g. not to treat my condition. I seem to have your usual cold that I’ve gotten just like everyone gets, and I will indeed see a doctor if it seems warranted; thanks for the concern. I was mostly wondering: Are lowered body temperatures sometimes caused by, or a symptom of, cold/flu/etc? If so, what causes this? ---
**Author:** ![it\_sjustme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/da6949/32.png) [@it\_sjustme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/it_sjustme)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/6 "2003-02-08T07:37:18Z")
Yes, a lowered body temperature can be a sign of infection, if the bacteria gets into the bloodstream and the person goes into septic shock. I’m not suggesting that you are experiencing this. I’m just answering your casual question. If you were in septic shock, your temperature would be lower, and you’d be suffering from a lot more symtoms (an altered mental state, for exmple) than “usual cold” symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/7 "2003-02-08T16:53:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by squeegee \* > **I checked my temperature and it was 97.2. Huh? An anti-fever?** You think that’s bad? My body temp is normally 97.2 - try selling a military doctor on a fever when you’re temp is an even 98.6 “But Doc”, sez I, “That’s like a 100-degree temp for anyone else!” “Sure it is, ya malingering slimeball. Get outta my office!” Errr…sorry, I had nothing to add. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/8 "2003-02-08T16:56:19Z")
It’s not considered hypothermia unless core body temperature drops below 95 degrees. So you’re not even close. Oral temperature measurements have wide variations depending on recent ingestion of hot or cold liquids, mucous membrane hydration status, presence or absence of mouth breathing, etc. So you’ll need a rectal thermometer to get a good idea of your actual core temperature. Go for it, and get back to us. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/9 "2003-02-08T17:03:52Z")
Ummm. You first. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/10 "2003-02-08T19:14:43Z")
As an alternative to the anal thermometer, just **stick it in your ear.** [ul]😃 [sup]Consult your doctor before following this advice.[/sup][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Mahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Joe\_Mahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Mahma)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/11 "2003-02-08T20:34:15Z")
It seems to me that the opposite of _febrile_ (having a fever) is _afebrile_ (having no fever), that is, having a normal temperature (whatever normal may be for you). ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-fever/153663/12 "2003-02-08T20:52:26Z")
Although the average body temperature is 37 degrees (98.6F), your body temperature will vary, because you are you. Because temperature changes throughout the day. Because temperature has to be “coverted” depending on whether the measurement is oral, rectal or in the armpit. The word you are looking for might be “chills”. Older people in particular often seem to have a lower body temperature when they have an infection. Hypothermia is more strictly defined as having core temperatures below 35C (95F) and subdivided into mild, moderate (below 32.2C=90F) and severe (below 27C=80F).