Alterations in body temperature Flashcards
(98 cards)
NORMAL TEMPERATURE
NORMAL TEMPERATURE ● Core body temperature ○ 36.5-37.5 C ● Variability exists ○ 36.8 ± 0.4 C at 6 am ○ 37.2 C – 37.7 C at 4-6 pm ● Timing of fever is important! ○ High in the afternoon ○ Low in the morning ● Rectal temp is 0.4 C higher than oral temp
preferred for Children
Rectal
ORAL:
preferred for Adults
AXILLARY:
common for Adults
Fever associated with various changes.
○ Vasoconstriction
○ Shivering
○ Behavioral changes
PYROGENS
● Any substance causing fever
● May be caused by infection (development of antigens)
● Stimulates the production of pyrogenic cytokines
● Antibiotics may cause fever!
PYROGENIC CYTOKINES
● Small proteins that regulate immune, inflammatory, and hematopoietic processes
● IL-1 (most common for autoimmune problems: px always has fever), IL-6, TNF, CNTF and IIFNα
● May be released in infections, inflammatory processes, trauma, tissue necrosis, and antigenantibody complexes
● Needed to differentiate progenitor cells
● Normally has physiologic effects but pathologic in excess (ex., gout)
● Needed to stimulate blood and immune production.
However, overproduction can also lead to an inflammatory response
PGE2
● Stimulation by the cytokines increases the hypothalamic set point as well as induces other s/sx (ex., arthralgia & myalgia)
● Vasodilation, GIT effects
● PGE2 is produced centrally and peripherally.
Peripheral production causes arthralgia and myalgia, central production causes fever. However, it is not the PGE2 itself that would cause the fever,
but the stimulation of the cAMP (neurotransmitter).
Induction of Fever
Infection → activate monocytes & macrophages → release
pyrogens, ILs, cytokines → stimulate hypothalamus →
release prostaglandin (PGE2) → set hypothalamic set
point higher → FEVER
PGE2:
stage where you will develop fever
HYPERPYREXIA
● Fever >41.5 C
● Severe infections or CNS hemorrhage
● Usually secondary to CNS problem
● Changing of hypothalamic set point to a higher level
● Very high fever with several complications
● >41.5C – look for s/sx of CNS infxn; ideally perform CT scan
Rare causes of elevated hypothalamic set point
○ Local trauma, hemorrhage, tumor or intrinsic hypothalamic malfunction
○ Sometimes even medications
TREATMENT of Hyperpyrexia
● Usually self-limited (no medications)
● In some bacterial infections, assessment of fever
patterns can help correctly give diagnosis and
treatment (for prolonged fever)
○ Normal fever: ↑temp = ↑pulse rate
○ Typhoid fever: ↑temp = no increase in pulse
rate
○ That’s why proper assessment is necessary
Medications
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) – effects
mainly on the hypothalamic set point by action of cyclooxygenase. Acts only on the brain, not in the body. Good effect is only when it reaches the brain.
○ IL-1 – only affect IL 1, only good if fever is secondary to autoimmune process ○ ASA ○ Ibuprofen and Coz-2 inhibitors ○ Glucocorticoids ■ acts on inflammation (cortisol) ■ acts on the brain by lowering the set point
ANTIPYRECTICS
● Reduces inflammation → ↓ cytokines → (-) fever
● Stops any inflammation, shotgun treatment, not supposed to be used only to treat fever
○ ASA (Acetyl Salicylic Acid or – aspirin),
NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal, Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), Acetaminophen (Paracetamol), Steroids
HYPERTHERMIA
● Uncontrolled increase in body temperature that
exceeds the body’s capability to lose heat.
● The set point is not changed and does not involve
pyrogenic molecules
● Exogenous heat exposure and exogenous heat
production
● core temp is going up w/o necessary stimulus – no
change in the set point but problem lies
exogenously
● Mostly exogenous depending on the type that
induces hyperthermia
Cardiovascular
Inefficiency
Age extremes Beta/Ca2+ channels blockade Congestive heart failure Dehydration Diuresis Obesity Poor physical fitness
Central Nervous
System Illness
Cerebral hemorrhage Hypothalamic cerebrovascular accident Psychiatric disorders Status epilepticus
Impaired heat
loss
Antihistamines
Heterocyclic antidepressants
Occlusive clothing
Skin abnormalities
Endocrine
related illness
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Pheochromocytoma
Thyroid storm
Excessive heat
load
Environmental conditions Exertion Fever Hypermetabolic state Lack of acclimatization
Infectious Illness
Cerebral abscesses Encephalitis Malaria Meningitis Sepsis syndrome Tetanus Typhoid
Toxicologic
Illness
Amphetamines Anticholinergic toxidrome Cocaine Dietary supplements Hallucinogens Malignant hyperthermia Neurologic malignant syndrome Salicylates Serotonin syndrome Sympathomimetic Withdrawal syndrome (ethanol, hypnotics)
Heat stroke
can be exertional (playing in the gym
w/o aircon) or non-exertional (has mild
hyperthermic effect