Hyperpyrexia

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Hyperpyrexia is a term reserved for very high fevers and is usually only deemed to be present when the core body temperature is >41.5°C .

Clinical presentation

Very high fevers appear to be markedly deleterious for cognitive wellbeing, patients often being delirious and mentally impaired with coma rapidly intervening in most cases without aggressive resuscitation.

Differential diagnosis

  • infections
  • sepsis
  • drugs
    • neuroleptic malignant syndrome
    • MDMA, amphetamines
  • heat stroke
  • malignant hyperthermia
  • quad fever