Hyperthermia
Hyperthermia is an elevated body temperature due to failed thermoregulation. Hyperthermia occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. When the elevated body temperatures are sufficiently high, hyperthermia is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment to prevent disability or death.
The most common causes are heat stroke and adverse reactions to drugs. Heat stroke is an acute condition of hyperthermia that is caused by prolonged exposure to excessive heat or heat and humidity. The heat-regulating mechanisms of the body eventually become overwhelmed and unable to effectively deal with the heat, causing the body temperature to climb uncontrollably. Hyperthermia is a relatively rare side effect of many drugs, particularly those that affect the central nervous system. Malignant hyperthermia is a rare complication of some types of generahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifl anesthesia.
Hyperthermia can be created artificially by drugs or medical devices. Hyperthermia therapy may be used to treat some kinds of cancer and other conditions, most commonly in conjunction with radiotherapy.
Hyperthermia differs from fever in the mechanism that causes the elevated body temperatures: a fever is caused by a change in the body's temperature set-point.
The opposite of hyperthermia is hypothermia, which occurs when an organism's temperature drops below that required for normal metabolism. Hypothermia is caused by prolonged exposure to low temperatures and is also a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.
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Nursing Diagnosis for Tetanus Hyperthermia related to the effects of the toxin (bacteremia)
Characterized by:
Body temperature rose to 38-40 ° C, hyper-hydration, white blood cells more than 10.000/mm3
Objectives:
Normal body temperature
Expected outcomes:
- Temperature returns to normal 36-37 ° C
- Laboratory results of white blood cells (WBCs) between 5000 - 10.000/mm3
Nursing Interventions for Tetanus - Hyperthermia
1. Set the temperature a comfortable environment.
Rational: climate and environment can affect an individual's body temperature as a process of adaptation through the process of evaporation and convection.
2. Monitor body temperature every two hours.
Rational: identification of developmental symptoms of exhaustion towards the shock.
3. Provide adequate hydration or drinking.
Rational: fluids help refresh the body and is a compressed body of a fever.
4. Take action aseptic and antiseptic techniques in wound care.
Rational: eliminate the possibility of toxin treatment of wounds that are still located around the wound.
5. Give cold compress when no external stimuli seizures.
Rational: cold compress is one way to lower body temperature by means of conduction process.
6. Implement program of antibiotics and antipyretic treatment.
Rational: the drugs may have antibacterial spectrum to treat gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria, antipyretic worked as a process of thermoregulation to anticipate the heat.
7. Collaboration in the laboratory examination of leukocytes.
Rational: the results of leukocytes increased by more than 100.000/mm3 identify an infection and or to keep abreast of the prescribed treatment.
Nursing Assessment for Tetanus