Overheating (Hyperthermia): Complications

The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by hyperthermia:

Respiratory system (J00-J99)

  • Aggravation of existing conditions such as pulmonary insufficiency (limitation of lung function).

Cardiovascular system (I00-I99).

  • Cardiovascular failure [complication of: Heat collapse, hydroprive heat exhaustion (due to lack of water), saloprive heat exhaustion (due to lack of salt), and heat stroke]
  • Aggravation of existing diseases such as heart failure (cardiac insufficiency).

Liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts-pancreas (pancreas) (K70-K77; K80-K87).

  • Acute liver failure – genetic defect in an intracellular transport protein may cause children to develop acute liver failure in high fever (very rare)

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99).

  • Alterations of consciousness in the presence of existing organic brain disease.
  • Cerebral edema (swelling of the brain as a result of cerebral volume and pressure increase) [complication in: sunstroke].
  • Enhancement of cerebrovascular insufficiency (restriction of cerebral blood flow).

Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).

  • Febrile convulsions, especially in infants and young children.
  • Heat shock in hyperthermia → associated with “multi-organ dysfunction syndrome” in 75% of cases; typical complications include:
    • Acute respiratory failure (“acute respiratory distress syndrome”).
    • Liver failure
    • Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC; coagulopathy (clotting disorder) resulting from intravascular activation of blood clotting).
    • Rhabdomyolysis (dissolution of striated muscle fibers) with acute renal failure (ANV).
    • Shock with consecutive disturbance in electrolyte and acid-base balance, which can lead to acute renal and liver failure