NCLEX-PN
Hyperthermia
Hypothermia
Results from the body's heat production exceeding heat loss. Hyperthermia is defined as a core body temperature exceeding 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit . ● Infection ● Intense physical activity ● Hypothalamus dysfunction ● Certain medications (e.g., monoamine oxidase inhibitors) ● Hyperthyroidism ● Exposure to extremely hot and humid environmental conditions
Occurs when the body's heat production is insufficient to counterbalance heat loss. Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit . ● Aging-related temperature regulation changes ● Diabetes ● Trauma ● Hypothyroidism ● Exposure to extremely cold environmental conditions
Conditions
Risk factors
● Fever ● Nausea ● Vomiting ● Hypotension ● Seizures ● Hot skin ● Dehydration
● Confusion ● Shallow, slow respirations ● Shivering ● Lethargy ● Slurred speech ● Loss of consciousness ● Coma ● Potential fatality if untreated
Signs and Symptoms
● Confusion ● Dizziness ● Tachycardia ● Rapid respirations ● Coma ● Potentially fatal outcomes if left untreated
● Addressing underlying disorders that contribute to elevated body temperature ● Administering fluids to replace lost fluids ● Providing cooling measures , such as applying wet packs or using a hypothermia warming blanket, to normalize the client's temperature.
● Applying a warming blanket ● Using warm packs to increase body temperature ● Encouraging warm oral fluids to help raise the client's temperature to the normal range.
Treatment
Nurses play a vital role in monitoring and maintaining their clients' body temperatures within the normal range, promptly identifying deviations, and implementing appropriate interventions to ensure their well-being. Implementing and Monitoring Phototherapy Phototherapy is used to treat psoriasis , but it is most commonly employed for the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice , which can occur among both full-term and preterm infants. The complications of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia can include the depositing of bilirubin in the fatty tissues , so when the levels of bilirubin are high, phototherapy with the use of direct light or a bilirubin
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