Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
06:59
A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
Hyperpyrexia due to air-conditioning failure in a nursing home
Public Health Reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)
|September 1, 1979
Summary
A Florida nursing home experienced a heat-related illness outbreak, hyperpyrexia, causing fever and deaths among residents when air conditioning failed during hot weather. This highlights the critical need for environmental controls in elder care facilities.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Nursing home residents in Florida experienced sudden fever and mortality.
- The outbreak coincided with air conditioning system failure during a heatwave.
- No infectious pathogens were identified in affected residents or staff.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of a sudden febrile illness outbreak in a nursing home.
- To determine the role of environmental conditions versus infectious agents.
- To assess the risk of heat stress in vulnerable populations.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological investigation of resident and staff illness.
- Environmental monitoring of indoor and outdoor temperatures.
- Laboratory analysis for viral and bacterial pathogens.
Main Results:
- 21 out of 89 residents developed fever (>38.1°C) without other symptoms.
- Five residents died, with temperatures reaching up to 41.3°C.
- Elevated indoor temperatures (31.7°C) were recorded during AC failure.
Conclusions:
- The illness was attributed to hyperpyrexia secondary to environmental heat stress.
- The findings are analogous to increased mortality during urban heat waves.
- Ensuring adequate ventilation and heat stress management is crucial for nursing home safety.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Factors Affecting Body Temperature
As a nurse, it is vital to understand the factors affecting body temperature to monitor variations and effectively evaluate deviations from regular.
Factors may include:
Factors may include:
01:25Increased 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.
01:25Types of Fever
Fever can be triggered by several factors, including infections, nervous system disorders, certain cancers, blood diseases like leukemia, embolism, thrombosis, heatstroke, dehydration, surgical trauma, crushing injuries, and allergic reactions.
Here are the different types of fever:
Here are the different types of fever:
01:19Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature
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...
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:
01:30Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without causing...