PAT 20A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate, Febrile Seizure, Pulmonary Embolism
22 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Fever (pyrexia) is an elevation in body temperature caused by a change in the thermostatic set point of the hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre. It is a non-specific response that is mediated by endogenous pyrogens released from host cells in response to infectious or noninfectious disorders. Fever is resolved when the condition causing the increased in the set-point of the thermostatic centre in the hypothalamus is resolved. Proteins released from bacterial cell membranes can cause a change in the set-point to rise. When the condition that causes the rise in the set-point is removed then the fever is resolved. Fevers regulated by the hypothalamus don"t rise above 45 c. Temperatures above 45 c are a result of convulsions, hyperthermic states, impairment of the temperature control centre. Exogenous pyrogens are obtained from outside the body (bacterial products, toxins, whole microorganisms) Endogenous pyrogens are fever-producing mediators generated when exogenous pyrogens induce host cells.
