Temperature Alterations
Temperature Alterations
Temperature Alterations
BODY TEMPERATURE:-
Body temperature is the difference between the
amount of heat produced by body processes and the
amount of heat lost to the external environment.
Heat produced- Heat lost= Body temperature.
Body temperature regulation:-
Physiological and behavioral mechanisms precisely
regulate and control body temperature mechanisms.
For the body temperature to stay constant and within
an acceptable range, the body has to maintain the
relationship between heat production and heat loss.
Heat Loss. Heat loss and heat production occur
simultaneously.
Skin structure and exposure to the environment result
in constant, normal heat loss through
Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Evaporation
Radiation is the transfer of heat from the surface of
one object to the surface of another without direct
contact between the two.
As much as 85% of the surface area of the human
body radiates heat to the environment.
Contd…
Conduction is the transfer of heat from one object to
another with direct contact.
Solids, liquids, and gases conduct heat through
contact.
Convection is the transfer of heat away by air
movement. A fan promotes heat loss through
convection.
Evaporation is the transfer of heat energy when a
liquid is changed to a gas. The body continuously loses
heat by evaporation
Neural and Vascular Control
The Hypothalamus located between the cerebral
hemispheres of the brain, controls body temperature
by attempting to maintain a comfortable temperature
or set point. When the hypothalamus senses an
increase in body temperature by sweating and
vasodilatation (widening of blood vessels). If the
hypothalamus senses the body’s temperature is lower
than the set point, it sends signals out to increase heat
production by muscle shivering or heat conservation
by vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels).
Heat production:-
Temperature regulation relies on normal heat
production processes. Heat is produced as a byproduct
of metabolism. As metabolism increases, the body
produces additional heat. When metabolism decreases
the body produces less heat.
Heat loss:-
Heat loss and heat production occur at the same time.
The skins exposure to the environment result in
constant, normal heat loss through radiation,
conduction, convection and evaporation.
Temperature alterations –
Hyperthermia:- Hyperthermia is an abnormally high
body temperature caused by a failure of the heat-
regulating mechanisms of the body to deal with
the heat coming from the environment.
Heat Cramps:-
Heat cramps are painful, involuntary muscle spasms
that usually occur during heavy exercise in hot
environments.
Heat cramps are caused by severe fluid and electrolyte
loss, especially sodium.
Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms that occur due
to dehydration and loss of nutrients from excessive
sweating.
Signs and symptoms of heat cramps usually
include heavy sweating, fatigue, thirst and muscle
cramps.
Heat stroke
Heat stroke is a condition in which the body
temperature is raised above 40C (104F).
Prolonged exposure to the sun or high environment
temperature causes heat stroke.
Signs and Symptoms: Tachycardia, tachypnea, hot and
dry skin, nausea, excess thirst, confusion, giddiness.
Heat Exhaustion:-
Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness that can occur after
you've been exposed to high temperatures, and it often is
accompanied by dehydration.
It is a dangerous heat emergency defined as a body temperature
of 40 degree Celcius (104 degree F)
S/S includes giddiness, confusion, excess thirst, nausea, visual
disturbance.
There are two types of heat exhaustion:
Water depletion. Signs include excessive thirst, weakness,
headache, and loss of consciousness.
Salt depletion. Signs include nausea and vomiting, muscle
cramps, and dizziness.
Hypothermia:-
Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when
your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat,
causing a dangerously low body temperature.
Heat loss during prolonged exposure to cold overwhelms
the bodys ability to produce heat, causing hypothermia.
Hypothermia has been defined by WHO as body
temperature below the normal range (36.5°C – 37.5°C) and
has been sub-classified into three grades: mild (36.0°C –
36 . 5°C), moderate (32.0°C – 35.9°C), and severe
(<32.0°C) hypothermia
Fever/Pyrexia – Definition, Causes,
Stages, Types:
Fever or pyrexia is defined as a rise in the body
temperature above 99 degree F (37.2 degree Celsius).
Causes:-
Infections: Fever results from a response to bacterial
or viral infections. Certain pyrogens released from
bacteria, viruses or parasites affect the hat regulating
system in hypothalamus resulting in the production of
excess heat and fever.
Disease conditions like brain lesions, leukemia etc
Exposure to hot environment
Allergic reactions
Stages of Fever
Onset or invasion: It is the stage in which there is a
sudden or gradual rise in temperature.
Fastigium or stadium: It is a stage when the body
temperature has reached its maximum and remains
constant at a high level
Defervescence or decline: Decline of fever is a stage
when the elevated temperature is returning to normal.
Fever may decline suddenly or gradually.
Crisis: it is a sudden return to normal temperature.
Lysis: It is the gradual return to normal temperature.
Types of Fever:
Continuous fever or constant fever –In this fever is
one in which the temperature varies not more than
two degrees between morning and evening and it does
not reach normal for a period of days or weeks.
Remittent fever –Remittent fever is a fever
characterized by variations of more than two degree
between morning and evening but does not reach
normal.
Intermittent or Quotidian fever: The temperature
rises from normal or subnormal to high fever and back
at regular intervals. The body temperature alternates
regularly between a period of fever and a period of
normal temperature.
Inverse fever: In this type the highest rage of
temperature is recorded in the morning hours and the
lowest in the evening.
Relapsing fever:- In which there are brief febrile
periods followed by one or more days of normal
temperature.
IRREGULAR FEVER- When fever is entirely irregular
in its course, it cannot be classified under any one of
the fevers it is called irregular fever.
Rigor: Rigor is a sudden severe attack of shivering in
which the body temperature rises rapidly to a stages of
hyperpyrexia as seen in malaria.
Low pyrexia:- In low pyrexia the fever does not rise
above 99 to 100 F or between 37.8 and 39.4 degree
Celsius.
Moderate pyrexia:- The body temperature remain
between 100 to 103F or between 37.8 and 39.4 C.
High Pyrexia: The temperature remains between 103
and 105F and 39.4 and 40.6C.
Management of Fever:-
Assessment of the patient
Constantly assess a client with fever
Monitor vital signs frequently to check the progress of
the client condition
Assess the skin for any sign of dehydration
Monitor intake and output of client
Note and report any worsening of the clients condition
immediately.
Regulation of body temperature
Make the room well ventilated
Remove the blankets and excess clothing. Remove
excess blankets when the client feels warm
Keep the patient hydrated by providing fluids
Provide tepid sponge to bring the temperature to
normal
Provide cold compress, if needed
Administer antipyretics like paracetamol as per
doctors order.
Meeting the nutritional Needs
Provide the client a high calorie diet as cellular
metabolism increase during fever.
Provide small and frequent meal to the client. The diet
should be easily digestible. It should be soft and
should contain plenty of fluids
Provide adequate fluid (2500-3000,l/day) to prevent
dehydration as the patient with fever lose large
amount of fluid through sweating
Administer Intravenous fluids if nausea, vomiting or
diarrhea present.
Rest and sleep
Calm and quiet environment should be provided to
the client. Ask the patient to take adequate rest.
Maintain personal hygiene
Provide oral care
Apply emollient to the dry lips to prevent cracking
Sponge bath should be given