Sunday, May 21, 2023

Temperature dysregulation in salicylate overdose

Q:  Patients with salicylate overdose usually present with? (select one)

A) hyperthermia
B) hypothermia


Answer: A

Few clinical vitals are unique to salicylate overdose and can be diagnostic. The most important are hyperpnea (the depth of respiration), and hyperthermia. Hyperpnea is relatively early in the toxicity, and hyperthermia usually lags behind. Hyperpnea is due to the direct stimulation of the medullary respiratory center, while hyperthermia is due to uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria. Said that absence of these two signs should not exclude salicylate toxicity.

#toxicology



Reference:

1. Pearlman BL, Gambhir R. Salicylate intoxication: a clinical review. Postgrad Med. 2009 Jul;121(4):162-8. doi: 10.3810/pgm.2009.07.2041. PMID: 19641282.

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