Temperature

Question 1

indications

Answer 1

Baseline - comparisons

Monitor fluctuations

Question 2

What regulates temperature?

Answer 2

Hypothalamus

Question 3

Temperature ranges

Answer 3

Body temp is balance between heat gain and heat loss

Core temp avg 37
Nice 36.5-37.5

Different body sites - diff normal values

Question 4

Recording sites

Answer 4

Skin 
Mouth 
Rectal 
Axillary 
Ear

Question 5

Temp pregnancy and childbirth

Answer 5

Progesterone and raised metabolic rate increases amount of heat by 30 - maternal temp increases by 0.5%

Labour - rise may indicate infection/dehydration or increased muscular activity from uterine contractions - close observation needed

Question 6

Hypothermia

Answer 6

<35%

Question 7

Low grade pyrexia

Answer 7

38
Mild infection, allergy, thrombosis, wound, UTI, resp

NICE = fever in labour 38 or 37.5 x2 one hour apart

Question 8

Hyperpyrexia

Answer 8

40 and above

Bacteriaemia, damage to hypothalamus or high environmental temperatures

Question 9

How does body adapt to temperature changes

Answer 9

Heat loss - shivering goose bumps beh changes

Heat production - sweating flushed skin beh changes §§

Question 10

Core/peripheral

Answer 10

Core avg 37 - warmest parts of body, chest brain abdomen organs

Peripheral - generated by skin and skeletal muscle, lower than core and helps regulate it

Cooler temp on skin so diff between temp recording sites

Question 11

Procedure

Answer 11

I.c + discuss 
Wash PPE 
Disposable cover 
Place in position press start 
Remove when indicates 
Read temp and document 
Discard probe etc 
Explain and discuss, refer if abnormal q