In the nearly two centuries since German physician Carl Wunderlich established 98.6°F as the standard ‘normal’ body temperature, it has been used by parents and doctors alike as the measure by which fevers — and often the severity of illness — have been assessed.
Average body temperature among healthy adults declined over the past two decades
In the nearly two centuries since German physician Carl Wunderlich established 98.6°F as the standard ‘normal’ body temperature, it has been used by parents and doctors alike as the measure by which fevers — and often the severity of illness — have been assessed.