(NCA1) Fundamentals of Nursing
Care of Clients with Problem in Thermoregulation
Body Temperature - reflects the balance between the heat produced and the heat lost from the body.
Heat Production Heat Loss
Basal metabolism Radiation
Muscular Activity (Shivering) Conduction/Convection
Thyroxine and Epinephrine (stimulating Evaporation
effects on metabolic rate)
Temperature effect on cells
Factors Affecting Body Temperature
1. AGE
- Infants greatly influenced by the temperature of the environment
- Children’s temperature are variable
- Older people are usually prone to Hypothermia
Inadequate diet
Loss of subcutaneous fat
Lack of activity
Reduced thermoregulatory efficiency
1. DIURNAL VARIATIONS (circadian rhythm)
-Temperature change throughout the day
- Highest at 8:00 pm and midnight
- Lowest at 4:00 am and 6:00 am
, 1. EXERCISE & METABOLISM
-Exercise increases body temperature
- Muscle activities, including shivering, increase the metabolic rate.
- Basal metabolic rate- is the rate of energy utilization in the body.
1. HORMONES
-Women usually experience more hormone fluctuations than men.
-In women, progesterone secretion at the time of ovulation raises body temperature by about 0.3℃ -
0.6℃ above the basal temperature.
1. STRESS
-Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system can increase the production of epinephrine and
norepinephrine thereby, increasing metabolic activity and heat production.
1. ENVIRONMENT
-Extremes in environmental temperatures can affect a person’s temperature regulatory system.
BODY TEMPERATURE HEAT TRANSFER:
1. CONDUCTION- direct heat transfer from one area to another, minimal heat loss except, when a
body is immersed in cold water.
2. CONVECTION- dispersion of heat through air currents; Example Electric fan
3. RADIATION- indirect heat transfer.
Transfer of heat from the surface of one object to the surface of another object without contact
between the two objects, mostly in the form of infrared rays.
4. VAPORIZATION- continuous evaporation of moisture from respiratory tract and skin: Tepid sponge
bath
ALTERATIONS IN BODY TEMPERATURE:
, 1. Pyrexia, Hyperthermia (FEVER)- temperature above normal
1. Hyperpyrexia- a very high fever usually 41℃
1. INTERMITTENT FEVER- alternates at regular intervals between periods of fever and periods of
normal or subnormal temperatures.
1. REMITTENT FEVER- wide range of temperature fluctuations (more than 2℃) occurs over a 24-hour
period, all of which are above normal.
1. RELAPSING FEVER- short febrile periods of a few days are interspersed with periods of 1 or 2
days of normal temperature.
2. CONSTANT FEVER- the body temperature fluctuates minimally but always remains above normal.
Fever Patterns Description
Sustained Variation of temp. <0.3 celsius per day
Temperature returns to normal between
Intermittent Fever exacerbations
Periods of fever lasting days followed by afebrile
Relapsing Fever
period lasting the same duration
Temperature fluctuates >0.3 celsius without going
Remittent Fever
back to normal
Wide swings of temperature each day (usually>1
Hectic Fever
celsius)
Average Body Temp. Chart
Care of Clients with Problem in Thermoregulation
Body Temperature - reflects the balance between the heat produced and the heat lost from the body.
Heat Production Heat Loss
Basal metabolism Radiation
Muscular Activity (Shivering) Conduction/Convection
Thyroxine and Epinephrine (stimulating Evaporation
effects on metabolic rate)
Temperature effect on cells
Factors Affecting Body Temperature
1. AGE
- Infants greatly influenced by the temperature of the environment
- Children’s temperature are variable
- Older people are usually prone to Hypothermia
Inadequate diet
Loss of subcutaneous fat
Lack of activity
Reduced thermoregulatory efficiency
1. DIURNAL VARIATIONS (circadian rhythm)
-Temperature change throughout the day
- Highest at 8:00 pm and midnight
- Lowest at 4:00 am and 6:00 am
, 1. EXERCISE & METABOLISM
-Exercise increases body temperature
- Muscle activities, including shivering, increase the metabolic rate.
- Basal metabolic rate- is the rate of energy utilization in the body.
1. HORMONES
-Women usually experience more hormone fluctuations than men.
-In women, progesterone secretion at the time of ovulation raises body temperature by about 0.3℃ -
0.6℃ above the basal temperature.
1. STRESS
-Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system can increase the production of epinephrine and
norepinephrine thereby, increasing metabolic activity and heat production.
1. ENVIRONMENT
-Extremes in environmental temperatures can affect a person’s temperature regulatory system.
BODY TEMPERATURE HEAT TRANSFER:
1. CONDUCTION- direct heat transfer from one area to another, minimal heat loss except, when a
body is immersed in cold water.
2. CONVECTION- dispersion of heat through air currents; Example Electric fan
3. RADIATION- indirect heat transfer.
Transfer of heat from the surface of one object to the surface of another object without contact
between the two objects, mostly in the form of infrared rays.
4. VAPORIZATION- continuous evaporation of moisture from respiratory tract and skin: Tepid sponge
bath
ALTERATIONS IN BODY TEMPERATURE:
, 1. Pyrexia, Hyperthermia (FEVER)- temperature above normal
1. Hyperpyrexia- a very high fever usually 41℃
1. INTERMITTENT FEVER- alternates at regular intervals between periods of fever and periods of
normal or subnormal temperatures.
1. REMITTENT FEVER- wide range of temperature fluctuations (more than 2℃) occurs over a 24-hour
period, all of which are above normal.
1. RELAPSING FEVER- short febrile periods of a few days are interspersed with periods of 1 or 2
days of normal temperature.
2. CONSTANT FEVER- the body temperature fluctuates minimally but always remains above normal.
Fever Patterns Description
Sustained Variation of temp. <0.3 celsius per day
Temperature returns to normal between
Intermittent Fever exacerbations
Periods of fever lasting days followed by afebrile
Relapsing Fever
period lasting the same duration
Temperature fluctuates >0.3 celsius without going
Remittent Fever
back to normal
Wide swings of temperature each day (usually>1
Hectic Fever
celsius)
Average Body Temp. Chart
