23
Sep
Morning oral temperature >37.2°C (98.9°F) or an afternoon temperature of >37.7°C (99.9°F) could be considered as fever.
Normal body temperature has diurnal variation.The normal early morning to late afternoon increase is about 0.5°C (0.9°F).
Rectal temperatures are generally 0.6°C (1.0°F) higher than oral readings.
Hyperthermia – a temperature of 40 °C (104°F) is called hyperthermia.
Exogenous heat exposure and endogenous heat production are two mechanisms by which hyperthermia occurs.
It is important to make the distinction between fever and hyperthermia and hyperthermia can be rapidly fatal, and its treatment is different from that of fever.
Causes-
- heat stroke.
- anaesthesia drugs (malignant hyperthermia)
- neuroleptic drugs-(haloperodol,chlorpromazine,resiperidone)
- serotonin syndrome.
Three stages of hyperthermia-
1. Heat stress and heat cramps- temp mild elevation ( sweaty, thirsty, fatigue and muscle cramps)
2. Heat exhaustion- temp 100.4 to 104 °F ( skin is cold ,clammy and sweaty, headache, nausea, vomiting and weakness)
3.Heat stroke-temp>104°F( skin is hot, flushed and dry,confusion, seizure, coma)
Hyperpyrexia –
Hyperpyrexia is the term for an extraordinarily high fever 106°F(>41.5°C), which is seen in patients with severe infections or in patients with brain haemorrhages.
Causes –
1.Infections.
2.Brain- bleeding in brain, brain tumour, brain injury.
3.Medicine or drugs- as reaction to general anaesthetic, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressant drugs, cocaine, amphetamine.
4.Thyroid storm.
Take early medical advice if –
- you were recently discharged from hospital, or had surgery or medical procedure.
- you are on chemotherapy.
- you are on steroids or immunosuppressants medication.
- if you have diabetes, heart disease, cancer, lupus, or sickle cell anemia.
- you are Pregnant
- Recently traveled.
- if you have a fever plus 1 or more of these-
- Rash.
- breathing difficulty.
- headache or neck pain.
- Seizure or confusion.
- vomiting or diarrhea.
Types of thermometers-
1.Digital – for use in the mouth, armpit, or rectum.
2.Ear – tympanic thermometer.
3.Forehead –contactless forehead thermometers.
How to take an oral temperature-
use a digital thermometer:
- Wait 30 minutes after eating or drinking – Foods or drinks can raise or lower the temperature in the mouth.
- Clean the digital thermometer.
- Turn on the thermometer.
- Place the tip of the thermometer under the tongue, toward the back of the mouth.
- Close the lips around the thermometer, and breathe through the nose.
- Keep the thermometer still until it beeps.
- When the thermometer beeps, read the temperature on the screen.
- Clean the thermometer.
How to take an armpit temperature-
use digital thermometer:
- Clean the digital thermometer.
- Turn on the thermometer.
- Put the tip of the device in the center of a dry armpit.
- Gently press the arm against the body.
- Keep the thermometer still until it beeps.
- When the thermometer beeps, read the temperature on the screen.
- Clean the thermometer.
How to take an ear temperature-
- Wait 15 minutes after being outside – Being outside can change the temperature of the ears.
- Clean the ear thermometer.
- Gently pull the ear up and back if the child is older than 1 year. If the child is between 6 and 12 months old, pull the ear back.
- Put the tip of the device in the ear, pointed toward the opening inside the ear. Gently push the thermometer in about 1/2 to 1 cm toward the eardrum.
- Turn on the thermometer.
- Keep the thermometer still until it beeps.
- When the thermometer beeps, read the temperature on the screen.
- Clean the thermometer.
How to take a forehead temperature-
If you have a contactless thermometer, follow the instructions in the product insert.. Most important is to hold it at the right distance from the forehead.
Cleaning-
Clean the thermometer as per the product insert instructions.
*The opinion expressed in the Blog is of Dr Vijay D’Silva
The information provided in the blog is for educational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Do not ‘self-diagnose/ treat’.
Consult a qualified medical professional for opinion and treatment.
