Body temperature

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

The normal human body temperature range is typically stated as 36.5–37.5 °C (97.7–99.5 °F). The average internal temperature is 37.0 °C (98.6 °F). It is typically maintained within this range by thermoregulation. Body temperature normally fluctuates over the day following circadian rhythms (body clock), with the lowest levels around 4 a.m. and the highest in the late afternoon.

Core temperature is regulated and stabilized primarily by the hypothalamus, a region of the brain linking the endocrine system to the nervous system.

Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]

The following are diseases and disorders in which issues in thermoregulation may occur. Each may present in people with ME or ME/CFS.

ME/CFS[edit | edit source]

Temperature dysregulation[edit | edit source]

Temperature dysregulation, heat intolerance and cold intolerance are common symptoms of ME/CFS, and are is recognised in the Canadian Consensus Criteria as a neuroendocrine symptom.

  • 53.9% - 58.7% of the 2073 patients in a Belgian study of 2001 reported symptom exacerbation in extremes of temperature.[6]
  • Katrina Berne reports a prevalence of 75-80% for heat/cold intolerance.[7]

In the London criteria for ME, sensitivity to both heat and cold is mentioned under the criteria of periods of impaired circulation compatible with autonomic dysfunction.[8]

Temperature instability[edit | edit source]

Temperature instability and heat or cold intolerance are ME symptoms recognized in the International Consensus Criteria.[9]

Loss of thermostatic stability and intolerance of extremes of temperatures are separate diagnostic criteria in the International Consensus Criteria for ME. Indicators of temperature instability are listed as subnormal body temperature, marked fluctuations of temperature throughout the day; sweating episodes, recurrent feelings of feverishness with or without low grade fever, and cold extremities, e.g. fingers and toes.[9]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Osilla, Eva V.; Marsidi, Jennifer L.; Sharma, Sandeep (2022). Physiology, Temperature Regulation. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. PMID 29939615.
  2. Szelényi, Zoltán; Komoly, Sámuel (November 15, 2018). "Thermoregulation: From basic neuroscience to clinical neurology, part 2". Temperature: Multidisciplinary Biomedical Journal. 6 (1): 7–10. doi:10.1080/23328940.2018.1541680. ISSN 2332-8940. PMC 6422468.
  3. "Impaired Thermoregulation". PM&R KnowledgeNow. February 24, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Brigham, D.; Beard, J. (December 1996). "Iron and thermoregulation: a review". Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 36 (8): 747–763. doi:10.1080/10408399609527748. ISSN 1040-8398. PMID 8989508.
  5. Rosenzweig, P.H.; Volpe, S.L. (March 1999). "Iron, thermoregulation, and metabolic rate". Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 39 (2): 131–148. doi:10.1080/10408399908500491. ISSN 1040-8398. PMID 10198751.
  6. De Becker, P; McGregor, N; De Meirleir, K (September 2001), "A definition-based analysis of symptoms in a large cohort of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.", Journal of Internal Medicine, 250 (3): 234-240, PMID 11555128
  7. Berne, Katrina (December 1, 1995). Running on Empty: The Complete Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFIDS) (2nd ed.). Hunter House. p. 58. ISBN 978-0897931915.
  8. Howes, Sandra; Goudsmit, Ellen M.; Shepherd, Charles (October 15, 2014), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Criteria and clinical guidelines. 2014, archived from the original on September 23, 2015
  9. 9.0 9.1 Carruthers, BM; van de Sande, MI; De Meirleir, KL; Klimas, NG; Broderick, G; Mitchell, T; Staines, D; Powles, ACP; Speight, N; Vallings, R; Bateman, L; Bell, DS; Carlo-Stella, N; Chia, J; Darragh, A; Gerken, A; Jo, D; Lewis, DP; Light, AR; Light, KC; Marshall-Gradisnik, S; McLaren-Howard, J; Mena, I; Miwa, K; Murovska, M; Stevens, SR (2012), Myalgic encephalomyelitis: Adult & Paediatric: International Consensus Primer for Medical Practitioners (PDF), ISBN 978-0-9739335-3-6