NEW DELHI: A recent study by Stanford University has challenged the long-held belief that the average human body temperature is 36.6°C (98.6°F). Led by Dr. Julie Parsonnet, the research analyzed over 618,000 oral temperature measurements from adult patients taken between 2008 and 2017. The findings suggest that the average human body temperature now ranges between 36.2°C and 36.8°C (97.3°F and 98.2°F).

Dr. Parsonnet and her team used advanced machine learning algorithms to eliminate data affected by illnesses and conducted an extensive analysis of body temperature trends over time. They discovered that the average body temperature has decreased by at least 0.05°C (0.09°F) per decade since the 19th century. This decline is attributed to improvements in living conditions, better public health, and advancements in healthcare that have reduced chronic infections and long-term health issues.

The study highlights that what is considered "normal" body temperature varies from person to person and can fluctuate throughout the day. Factors such as age, sex, weight, height, and even the time of day can influence an individual's body temperature. Dr. Parsonnet emphasized that "most people, including many doctors, still think that everyone’s normal temperature is 36.6°C. In fact, what’s normal depends on each person and the situation; it’s rarely 36.6°C".

The implications of this study are significant for diagnosing conditions like fever, as it suggests that identifying deviations from an individual's normal temperature range could help detect illnesses earlier. The findings also underscore the importance of personalized healthcare and the need to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to medical standards. This study, published in the scientific journal eLife, serves as a reminder that our understanding of human physiology continues to evolve with advancements in research and technology.