Increased bodily temperature
Increased bodily temperature or pyrexia can be described as having a body temperature which is above the normal baseline. [1] While there is no universally agreed upon value at which pyrexia occurs, its diagnoses ranges between 37.5 - 38.3°C (99.5 - 100.9°F). [2] For comparison, the average temperature of a healthy person is around 37°C (98.6°F). It is worth noting that a bodily temperature which exceeds 41.5°C (106.7°F) is an emergency which requires immediate medical attention and can potentially result in physical injury, long-term side effects, and death. [3]
This effect is capable of manifesting itself in the two different forms which are described below:
- Fever is used to describe the body raising its core temperature due to illness. For example, a fever may be caused by a bacterial infection.
- Hyperthermia is classified as an uncontrollable increase in body temperature that typically originates from an external source. This most frequently involves heat strokes or the use of certain drugs.
Increased bodily temperature is often accompanied by other coinciding effects such as increased perspiration, dehydration, headaches, and serotonin syndrome. It is most commonly induced under the influence of heavy dosages of stimulant compounds which affect serotonin and 5-HT receptors [4] , dopamine and D receptors [5] and norepinephrine [6] . These substances include amphetamine, methylphenidate, MDMA, and cocaine. However, it can also occur under the influence of deliriants and certain stimulating psychedelics such as AMT, 2C-P, and DOC.