Elevation of body temperature above 41ºC / 105.8ºF due to an increased heat production or a decrease in heat loss, without the body's thermoregulatory system being able to correct it.
The most common causes are exposure to high temperatures, physical exertion in hot and humid environments, poisoning by medication or toxic substances, secondary to infection, endocrine disorder or central nervous system disorder (trauma, ischemia, hemorrhage).
It manifests itself with increased sweating, tachycardia, decreased blood pressure, muscle contractions, headache, nausea, vomiting, incontinence, seizures and altered level of consciousness. It is found when taking vital signs (temperature, heart rate, blood pressure), but the cause should be investigated through a clinical examination and sometimes blood tests.
The treatment is aimed at lowering body temperature and ensuring proper hydration. Cooling physical measures (baths, wet cloths), antipyretics, and hydration can be applied by orally or intravenously. In specific cases, a muscle relaxant, neuroleptic or drugs that maintain blood pressure can be used to treat complications.
If your temperature is above 40ºC / 104ºF and does not respond to antipyretics and/or physical measures, you should go to the emergency department for evaluation.
- C. A. Dinarello, R. Porat. Alteraciones de la temperatura corporal. Fiebre e hipertermia. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen I. Decimonovena edición. 123:126.
- R. Carrillo, G. Lázaro, J. Arturo. Hipertermia maligna. Conceptos actuales. Rev Mex Ane. 2013. 36(3): 185-192
- UpToDate [Internet]. Waltham. 2017. Malignant hyperthermia: Clinical diagnosis and management of acute crisis; [citado el 18 de julio de 2017]. Disponible en: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/malignant-hyperthermia-clinical-diagnosis-and-management-of-acute-crisis?source=search_result&search=hipertermia+severa&selectedTitle=1~150
