hyperthermia
Sign in to saveHyperthermia, also known as overheating, is a condition in which an individual's body temperature is elevated beyond normal due to failed thermoregulation. The person's body produces or absorbs more heat than it dissipates. According to the International Emergency Medicine Education Project, severe hyperthermia (body temperature elevation of beyond ) "becomes a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment to prevent disability or death". Almost half a million deaths are recorded every year from hyperthermia.
Key facts
- Medical condition.name
- Hyperthermia
- Medical condition.synonym
- Overheating
- Medical condition.image
- Clinical thermometer 38.7.JPG
- Medical condition.caption
- An analog medical thermometer showing a temperature of
- Medical condition.specialty
- Critical care medicine
- Medical condition.symptoms
- Lack of perspiration, confusion, delirium, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate and respiration rate, symptoms of dehydration
- Medical condition.complications
- Organ failure, unconsciousness
- Medical condition.causes
- Heat stroke, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, malignant hyperthermia, serotonin syndrome
- Medical condition.risks
- Exposure to hot and/or humid environments, physical exertion, wearing personal protective equipment that covers the body, heatwaves
- Medical condition.diagnosis
- Based on symptoms or body temperature above
- Medical condition.differential
- Fever
- Medical condition.prevention
- Maintaining a moderate temperature, regular hydration, taking regular breaks
- Medical condition.treatment
- Mild: Staying away from hot environments, rehydrating oneself, mechanical cooling, use of a dehumidifierSevere: intravenous hydration, gastric lavage with iced saline, hemodialysis, immersing in ice water
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Classification
- Signs and symptoms
- Causes
- Exertional
- Situational
- Drugs
- Personal protective equipment
- Other
- Pathophysiology
- Diagnosis
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Research
- See also
- References
- External links
Hyperthermia, also known as overheating, is a condition in which an individual's body temperature is elevated beyond normal due to failed thermoregulation. The person's body produces or absorbs more heat than it dissipates. According to the International Emergency Medicine Education Project, severe hyperthermia (body temperature elevation of beyond ) "becomes a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment to prevent disability or death". Almost half a million deaths are recorded every year from hyperthermia.
The most common causes include heat stroke and adverse reactions to drugs. Heat stroke is an acute temperature elevation caused by exposure to excessive heat, or combination of heat and humidity, that overwhelms the heat-regulating mechanisms of the body. The latter is a relatively rare side effect of many drugs, particularly those that affect the central nervous system. Malignant hyperthermia is a rare complication of some types of general anesthesia. Hyperthermia can also be caused by a traumatic brain injury.