Hyperthermia is defined as a core body temperature in excess of 40 °C (104 °F). It
is distinguished from a fever, or pyrexia, which is body temperature greater than
euthermia 38 °C (100.4 °F), and hyperpyrexia, defined as a core temperature greater
than 41.5 °C (106.7 °F), by the lack of an alteration in the hypothalamic homeoregulatory
set point from either severe infection or central nervous system hemorrhage [
[1]
]. This occurs when excess core energy needed to be dissipated to maintain euthermia
exceeds the body's regulatory mechanisms, either through a significant increase in
core heat by external warming or internal heat production or through an impairment
in the body's thermoregulatory mechanisms: radiation, evaporation, conduction, and
convection. These four mechanisms provide a powerful means to maintain a safe functioning
core temperature and are effective at maintaining euthermia up to an ambient temperature
of about 130 °F [
[2]
].To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: January 04, 2021
Accepted:
December 15,
2020
Received:
December 14,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
