Hyperthermia in children: from etiology to pathogenetic therapies. A review

Abstract

Fever is the most common symptom of most infectious diseases and, to a moderate extent, has a protective-compensatory effect with increased blood bactericidality and activation of immune mechanisms. A pathological variant of fever, in which there is a rapid and inadequate increase in body temperature, accompanied by microcirculation disorder, metabolic disorders, increasing dysfunction of vital organs and systems, in particular, the damage to the central nervous system is hyperthermic syndrome, which requires active antipyretic and symptomatic therapy. Polysystemic dysfunctions associated with hyperthermia and the course of the infectious process can change the metabolic status of antipyretic drugs and sensitivity to their action, which can increase the frequency and severity of side effects, including the development of hypothermia and/or a sharp decrease in body temperature. This will be prevented by a pathegenetic approach to the correction of hyperthermia using antipyretic drugs, the action of which is based on the stimulation of natural, endogenous anti-inflammatory and antipyretic mechanisms.