What term denotes core temperature below 95°F?

• A. Hyperthermia
• B. Afebrile
• C. Feverish State
• D. Hypothermia

Answer: (D)

When core temperature falls below the normal threshold of about 95°F, the condition is called hypothermia. Normal core temperature is around 98.6°F, with small natural variations; dropping to 95°F or lower means the body’s heat loss exceeds its production. Hypothermia often starts with cold exposure, damp clothing, wind, or impaired heat generation, and early signs include shivering and intellectual slowing. As it worsens, shivering may stop, movements become sluggish, and heart rate and breathing slow, raising the risk of dangerous heart rhythms and loss of consciousness. This term specifically denotes an abnormally low body temperature, unlike hyperthermia (too hot) or a state with no fever or an elevated fever (feverish state).