Increased temperature after surgery | Increased temperature

Increased temperature after surgery

Elevated temperatures after an operation, then also called post-operative fever, are not uncommon and clearly defined: one always speaks of a post-operative fever when the freshly operated patient reaches temperatures of over 38°C between the day of the operation and the 10th post-operative day. The causes can be manifold and can be either directly related to the operation itself or to the hospital stay in general. Infected retention cannulas in the veins, which are needed for the administration of infusions or medication, are often a cause of fever. Likewise, urinary tract or respiratory tract infections can occur, which are further exacerbated by the fact that the patient lies down for long periods and breathes with difficulty due to pain.In addition, wound infections can also cause increased temperatures, as can infections in the abdomen after abdominal surgery. The most common pathogens are then mainly bacteria, above all Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Increased temperature due to stress – is this possible?

Studies show that the occurrence of increased tepteratura without an infection background is possible due to stress. Particularly dangerous is permanent stress, which can lead to an increase in temperature via mechanisms that have not yet been fully clarified. It is suspected that the stress leads to an increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system through the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and catecholamines from the adrenal glands.

This in turn influences temperature regulation. Antipyretic agents tend to have less effect, whereas calming and anxiety-relieving agents have a much better effect. However, before we can speak of fever due to stress, a direct connection should be established with a current psychological additional burden and possible other causes for an increased body temperature should be excluded. or consequences of stress

Elevated temperature after vaccination – Is this normal?

The fact that elevated temperatures or fever occasionally occur after vaccination is not a cause for concern and can be considered a normal reaction of the body to the vaccine. It is a general reaction of the immune system to the administered vaccine, which is initially (intentionally) recognized as harmful and fought against. Through this reaction, the body forms certain defense substances (antibodies) on the one hand, and a memory for these administered pathogens on the other. Thus, in case of a renewed infection with this pathogen, an immediate and efficient defense takes place.