Body Temperature: Fever, Hyperpyrexia vs Hyperthermia (heat stroke)

Summary

The script explains the hypothalamus' role in regulating body temperature, with the average core temperature for a healthy adult ranging from 36.5 to 37.5°C. It discusses variations in body temperature, including diurnal and seasonal fluctuations, and how factors like age and diseases can affect it. The script also covers the mechanisms behind fever and hyperpyrexia, as well as hypothermia, which is a medical emergency caused by excessive heat exposure and not related to fever. It concludes with the importance of managing hypothermia by addressing its causes and using cooling techniques.

Takeaways

• 🌡️ The hypothalamus regulates body temperature, which typically ranges from 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius or 97.7 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 📉 Core body temperature refers to the temperature of internal organs and is usually about 0.6 degrees Celsius higher than axillary temperature.
• 🔍 Normal oral temperature for 95% of healthy adults varies from 35.7 to 37.3 degrees Celsius, with an average of 36.6 degrees Celsius.
• 🌡️ A body temperature above 37.7 degrees Celsius or 99.9 degrees Fahrenheit is generally considered a fever.
• 🌡️ Body temperature fluctuates throughout the day and across seasons, being lowest in the early morning and highest in the early evening.
• 📉 Core body temperature slightly decreases with age and can increase with certain conditions like cancer and chronic diseases.
• 🌡️ Rectal temperature is usually around 0.4 degrees Celsius higher than oral temperature.
• 🚺 In women of reproductive age, body temperature is lower in the early morning before ovulation and increases by about 0.6 degrees Celsius after ovulation until menstruation.
• 🤒 Fever is a higher than normal body temperature that the hypothalamus can still control through mechanisms like peripheral vasoconstriction, shivering, and liver heat production.
• 🌡️ Antipyretic medications can help regulate body temperature by inducing sweating and vasodilation, which increase heat loss.
• 🚨 Hyperpyrexia, or a fever above 41.5 degrees Celsius or 106 degrees Fahrenheit, is rare and can be life-threatening, requiring urgent treatment.
• 🥵 Heat stroke, or hypothermia, occurs when the body cannot compensate for excessive heat exposure, which can be fatal and requires immediate treatment.

Q & A

What does the hypothalamus control in the human body?

The hypothalamus controls body temperature.

What is the normal range of a human's core body temperature in Celsius?

The normal range is 36.5 to 37.5 degrees Celsius.

What is the normal range of a human's core body temperature in Fahrenheit?

The normal range is 97.7 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

How is core body temperature different from axillary temperature?

Axillary temperature is around 0.6 degrees lower than core body temperature.

What is the normal oral temperature range for 95 percent of healthy adults in Celsius?

The normal oral temperature varies from 35.7 to 37.3 degrees Celsius.

What is the mean oral temperature for a healthy adult population?

The mean temperature is 36.6 degrees Celsius.

At what temperature is a fever typically defined?

A fever is typically defined as a temperature of more than 37.7 degrees Celsius or 99.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do diurnal and seasonal variations affect body temperature?

Body temperature is lower in summer and higher in winter, lowest in the early morning, and highest in the early evening.

How does age affect core body temperature?

Core body temperature slightly lowers with age.

What is the difference between rectal and oral temperature?

Rectal temperature is generally higher than oral temperature by around 0.4 degrees.

How does a woman's temperature change during the menstrual cycle?

Early morning temperature is lower before ovulation, and after ovulation, it increases by around 0.6 degrees Celsius or 1 Fahrenheit until menstruation occurs.

What are the three mechanisms that contribute to the development of fever?

The mechanisms are peripheral vasoconstriction to prevent heat loss, shivering to increase heat production, and liver heat production.

What is hyperpyrexia and at what temperature does it occur?

Hyperpyrexia is a fever of more than 41.5 degrees Celsius or 106 Fahrenheit.

What is hypothermia and how does it differ from fever?

Hypothermia is a condition where the body's temperature increases uncontrollably, and unlike fever, it is not controllable by the hypothalamus.

What are some causes of hypothermia?

Hypothermia can be caused by exertion in a hot environment, or when the body is unable to compensate for heat exposure.

How is hypothermia treated?

The first step in treating hypothermia is to remove the underlying cause, which may include resting in a cool place, increased water consumption, and passive cooling techniques.