hyperthermia

[ hahy-per-thur-mee-uh ]

noun

1. Pathology. abnormally high fever.
2. Medicine/Medical. treatment of disease by the induction of fever, as by the injection of foreign protein or the application of heat.

hyperthermia

/ ˌhaɪpəˈθɜːmɪ; ˌhaɪpəˈθɜːmɪə /

noun

1. pathol variants of hyperpyrexia

hyperthermia

/ hī′pər-thûr′mē-ə /

1. An abnormally high body temperature, usually resulting from infection, certain drugs and medications, or head injury. Hyperthermia is sometimes created intentionally to treat diseases, especially some cancers.
2. Compare hypothermia

Derived Forms

• ˌhyperˈthermal, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyperthermia¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1885–90; hyper-, therm-, -ia

Example Sentences

“Exposure” in these cases likely means dehydration, hyperthermia or hypothermia, or some other death due to lack of protection from environmental elements.

From Salon

An autopsy determined that he died of hyperthermia, a dangerous internal overheating that can cause confusion, irritability and a lack of coordination.

From Los Angeles Times

An autopsy found O’Keefe died of hyperthermia and blunt force trauma.

From Seattle Times

This leads people to underestimate their chances of suffering hyperthermia on the hottest days and of their chances of dying.

From Science Daily

The discovery that some muscle proteins act as a temperature sensor may lead to a new hyperthermia strategy, in which skeletal muscle performance is improved by warming up the muscle.

From Science Daily