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Increased Body Temperature

Increased Body Temperature

A body temperature above 38°C (100.4 °F) is known as fever or pyrexia, and a person with fever is termed 'febrile.' Typically, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat, regulates body temperature through a thermoregulatory setpoint. It receives signals from cold and warm thermal receptors throughout the body and adjusts the body's temperature accordingly. Fever occurs when this hypothalamic setpoint is altered, usually in response to an infection or illness.

Methods of reducing fever

Methods of reducing fever

The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:

Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature

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Hyperthermia occurs when the body's temperature becomes unusually high, often due to heat exposure, intense physical activity, or certain illnesses. This condition can create a dangerous cycle where elevated body temperature increases the metabolic rate, generating more heat and potentially leading to organ failure and brain damage. A severe form of hyperthermia, called heat stroke, can raise body temperature to life-threatening levels. Fever, on the other hand, is a controlled form of...

Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions

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Toxidromes: Clinical Features

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Diabetes Insipidus I: Introduction

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management

Published on: November 21, 2017

Illicit Drug Induced Hyperthermia (IDIH).

Úna Nic Ionmhain^1,2,3,4, Kylie McArdle^1,5, Ingrid Berling^1,5,6

¹NSW Poisons Information Centre, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydeny, New South Wales, Australia.

Emergency Medicine Australasia : EMA

|June 9, 2025

Summary

Illicit drug induced hyperthermia (IDIH) is a critical medical emergency. Prompt recognition, active cooling within 15 minutes, and specialized care are vital to prevent severe organ damage and mortality.

Keywords:

cooling drug induced hyperthermia hyperthermia toxicology

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Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

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Published on: January 13, 2023

Area of Science:

Emergency Medicine
Clinical Toxicology
Pharmacology

Background:

Illicit drug induced hyperthermia (IDIH) presents a significant, life-threatening medical emergency.
Factors like exertion and high ambient temperatures can exacerbate drug toxicity-related hyperthermia.
Understanding the clinical spectrum, morbidity, and mortality of IDIH is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

To highlight the clinical features, morbidity, and mortality associated with illicit drug induced hyperthermia.
To emphasize the critical need for rapid recognition and management of IDIH.
To advocate for standardized protocols and expert consultation in managing IDIH cases.

Main Methods:

Case presentations illustrating IDIH scenarios.
Review of clinical features, contributing factors, and patient outcomes.
Discussion of management priorities and interventions.

Main Results:

IDIH requires immediate interventions to reduce heat production and initiate active cooling.
Achieving temperature control within 15 minutes is essential to prevent irreversible organ injury.
IDIH events are characterized as high acuity, low occurrence (HALO) situations.

Conclusions:

A specific protocol for IDIH and early consultation with clinical toxicology specialists are recommended.
Timely management, including rapid cooling and supportive care, is paramount for improving patient outcomes in IDIH.
Suspected illicit drug use in hyperthermia cases warrants a high index of suspicion and prompt, specialized medical attention.