Characteristics of human body temperature

· Body temperature – is an indicator of heat condition of the organism, which is thermoregulated by the system that involves the following components:

· thermoregulation centers (brain);

· peripheral thermoreceptors (skin, blood vessel);

· central thermoreceptors (hypothalamus);

· efferent pathways;

· Thermoregulation system provides functioning of the heat production and heat emission processes, which make the body temperature of a grown-up person relatively stable.

· The body temperature norm is 36-37⁰C; daily fluctuation is usually registered at 0,1-0,6⁰C and it must exceed 1⁰C. The maximum body temperature is in the evening (5-9 p.m.), minimum – in the morning (3-6 a.m.). In some cases a healthy person can have a slight increase of temperature, these include:

· intensive physical exercises;

· after eating;

· during strong emotional tension;

· women during ovulation period (increase in 0,6-0,8⁰C);

· when the weather is hot (increase is 0,1-0,5⁰C higher than in winter).

· Children usually have higher body temperature; older and aged people have a little decreased temperature.

· The lethal maximum body temperature is 43⁰C, lethal minimum – 15-23⁰C.

Fever

— The increase of body temperature for more than 37⁰C – fever – appears as a result of impact on human organism of various biologically active substances – so-called pyrogens (Gr. pyretos – fire, heat; genesis - appearance, development) that can be foreign proteins (microbes, their toxins, serums, vaccines); products of tissue disintegration in cases of traumas, burns, inflammatory process; some medical substances, etc. The 1⁰C increase of body temperature is accompaniedby the increase of respiratory rate by 4 respiratory movements per minute and the pulse increase by 8-10 per minute for grown-ups and 20 per minute for children.

1. Continued fever (febris continua).

Temperature fluctuations during the day do not exceed 1⁰C, usually remaining between 38-39⁰C, Such fever is typical for acute infectious diseases including pneumonia, acute respiratory virus infections.

2.Remittent fever (febrisremittens).

Prolonged fever with daily fluctuations of body temperature for more than 1⁰(up to 2⁰) C without getting back to normal. It is typical for different infections, focal pneumonia, pleurisy, purulent diseases.