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$Unique_ID{BRK03848}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Hyperthermia}
$Subject{Hyperthermia Heat Stress Heat-Related Illness Malignant Hyperthermia
Heat Exhaustion Heat Stroke }
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
728:
Hyperthermia
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Hyperthermia) is not
the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Heat Stress
Heat-Related Illness
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Malignant Hyperthermia
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Hyperthermia, though not rare, can be a serious health condition. Left
untreated it may become life-threatening. Hyperthermia occurs when the body
is extremely overheated. It is most common in older persons during the
summer months. Major symptoms include headache, nausea, and fatigue.
Without treatment the body may be unable to return to the proper temperature
of 98.6 F and heat exhaustion or heat stroke may occur. (See related disorder
section for information on these conditions).
Symptoms
Hyperthermia occurs when an overheated body is unable to reduce body
temperature to a normal 98.6 degrees F. This usually occurs during the heat
of summer, but may be triggered by other health problems or certain
medications. symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, muscle cramps,
thirst and profuse sweating. The skin may feel cold and clammy. Without
appropriate and prompt treatment to cool the body, Hyperthermia may progress
to more complicated conditions.
Causes
Hyperthermia is caused by heat. Hot summer weather, being out in the sun for
too long a period of time, excessive exercise in the heat, over extended
stays in a hot tub or sauna, or being in an overcrowded or overheated room
without adequate ventilation can cause Hyperthermia. Certain medications
(particularly diuretics), alcoholic beverages, certain medical conditions and
being overdressed in hot weather also causes Hyperthermia. The inability to
perspire sufficiently, high blood pressure or poor blood circulation may play
an important role in susceptibility to Hyperthermia.
Affected Population
Hyperthermia affects males and females in equal numbers. It is common in
people over fifty years of age, those confined to nursing homes, and people
with other medical problems. Younger, healthy persons are rarely affected.
Infants can also be affected by the heat since they cannot communicate their
needs to others.
Related Disorders
The following disorders may be associated with Hyperthermia.
Malignant Hyperthermia is a genetic disorder characterized by an abnormal
response to certain anesthesia drugs. The patient normally shows no symptoms
of discomfort or illness in every day life. However anesthesia given for
surgery, such as halothane or cyclopropane, or muscle relaxants such as
succinylcholine, causes a life threatening high fever that can rise as high
as 110 degrees F. Muscle rigidity and/or twitching may also occur. The
patient may also exhibit a very rapid and irregular heartbeat, abnormally low
blood pressure, sickly sweet breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. (For
more information on this disorder, choose "Malignant Hyperthermia" as your
search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Heat Exhaustion is caused by dehydration and loss of mineral salts from
the body due to heat stress usually of three or more days duration. It is
often seen in the elderly who are unaware of excessive water loss or are
unable to replenish lost fluids. Symptoms of heat exhaustion resulting from
fluid loss include intense thirst, fatigue, weakness, anxiety, and impaired
judgment. There may also be dehydration, rapid breathing (hyperventilation),
and behavioral abnormalities. Elderly people taking diuretic drugs for
hypertension are particularly prone to heat exhaustion.
Heat Stroke is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate
treatment. It occurs mainly in the poor, the elderly, the chronically ill,
alcoholics and patients with heart disease. Hot, humid weather usually
precedes this type of illness. Symptoms include a body temperature of 104 F
or above, central nervous system dysfunction, confusion, bizarre behavior,
faintness, and eventually coma. There may also be a rapid pulse, extreme
drop in blood pressure, and hot, dry, flushed skin. Heat Stroke may be
complicated by hemorrhage, jaundice, kidney failure, brain damage, peripheral
neuropathy, or heart and lung damage. Survival depends on rapid reduction of
body temperature usually in a hospital.
Illness involving dysfunction of the sweat glands, can be found in the
Rare Disease Database by typing "Hyperhidrosis" as your search term.
Therapies: Standard
Treatment of Hyperthermia consists of cooling the body. Cool showers, use of
fans or air conditioners, drinking plenty of fluids (excluding those that
contain caffeine or alcohol) helps maintain the correct body temperature.
Cool, slightly salty fluids may help restore body salts lost during sweating.
People prone to Hyperthermia should avoid being in the sun, wearing heavy
clothing in hot, humid weather and staying out of overcrowded and
under-ventilated environments.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
January 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Hyperthermia, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
NIH/National Institute on Aging
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 496-1752
References
CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th Ed.: Wyngaarden and Smith, et al., eds.;
W.B. Saunders, 1988, Pp. 1950, 2382-2385.
HYPERTHERMIA A HOT WEATHER HAZARD FOR OLDER PEOPLE, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, National Institute on Aging, U.S. Publication No.
89-2763, August, 1989.