Fever Flashcards
fevers are more commonly reported in
children than adults
populations with greater risk for fever
children, elderly, immunocompromised
principle reason to treat a fever
to relieve discomfort
risk in treating a fever
may have benefit on the host defense mechanism; treating fever may delay identification of underlying pathology
benefit in treating fever
improved patient comfort
normal body temperature
between 97.5-98.9
core body temp is regulate by
the hypothalamus
core body temp =
temp of blood that surrounds the hypothalamus and is NOT subject to much variation
core body temp rising:
information is transmitted between
the anterior hypothalamus and thermo-sensitive neurons in the skin and CNS
physiologic and behavioral mechanism will regulate
body temp to the normal range
skin temp may fluctuate greatly due to
environmental conditions
fever occurs when
there is a regulated rise in the core body thermoregulatory set point
fever occurs in response to
circulating pyrogens that active that host defenses
prostaglandins
elevate the core temp
during the upward temp readjustment
the person experiences chills cause by peripheral vasoconstriction and muscle rigidity to maintain homeostasis
fever is a body temp higher than
100 degrees
most febrile episodes are caused by
microbial infections
hyperthermia
malfunction of the hypothalamus that leads to a lack of control of the thermoregulatory set point
malignant hyperthermia consists of
temp greater than 104, muscle rigidity, metabolic acidosis
hyperpyrexia
temp > 106; leads to harmful and mental consequences
hyperpyrexia typically occurs in patients with
underlying medical conditions that prevent the body from regulating the core temp
