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'Functional hyperthermia': a historical overview
1Alumnus of the Grenoble Alpes Faculty of Medicine, La Tronche, France. mathieu.ginier-gillet@ebmfrance.net.
Biopsychosocial Medicine
|November 14, 2023
Summary
Managing low-grade fevers in adults lacks clear guidelines due to complex causes. This study clarifies
Area of Science:
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Humanities
- Philosophy of Medicine
Background:
- The management of low-grade fever in adults remains uncodified, presenting a significant clinical challenge.
- Existing diagnostic models often struggle with multifactorial etiologies, hindering effective fever management.
Discussion:
- Explores historical perspectives on 'psychogenic fever' using Reimann's 1930s case series.
- Integrates Canguilhem's philosophy of vital signs to re-evaluate fever as a clinical sign.
- Proposes a semantic clarification of 'habitual hyperthermia' to distinguish it from acute febrile states.
Key Insights:
- Recommends amending Belgian diagnostic criteria for functional disorders to better address persistent low-grade fevers.
- Advocates for a pragmatic approach, inspired by Peirce, for diagnosing and managing complex, uncommon clinical presentations.
Outlook:
- Aims to establish a more robust framework for understanding and managing low-grade fevers in adult medicine.
- Encourages a shift from monocausal disease models to a more holistic understanding of physiological regulation.
Keywords:
Fever of unknown originFunctional somatic syndromeHistory of medicineLow-grade feverMedically unexplained symptomsMiscellaneous disordersMore Related Videos
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