Long-term temperature-related morbidity after brain damage: survivor-reported experiences.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether temperature-related symptoms exist, long-term, in survivors of brain damage.


METHODS
Scoping exercise.


METHODS
A 'call for information', posted in the quarterly News bulletins of two major UK brain injury support groups, about any current or past temperature-related symptoms or problems that had developed since onset of brain damage.


RESULTS
Narratives from 41 survivors revealed the nature of temperature-related morbidity, ongoing, on average, for 8 years since brain damage. Twenty-five survivors reported problems specifically related to feelings of extreme heat; in a further eight, heat-related problems occurred with bouts of 'cold'. Feelings of extreme cold only were less common (n = 8). In 20 survivors, temperature problems had adverse effects on health and personal and social relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
To the authors' knowledge, this is the first account of temperature-related problems in the form of narratives from survivors of a variety of brain injuries. The origin of abnormal somatic sensibility to temperature is currently unclear. It is plausible that the symptoms could be a 'variant' of the 'pain-thermoregulatory distress axis' well described after human stroke. In the meantime, apparently abnormal sensory and physical symptoms experienced by the survivors lack both explanation and remedy.
Childs
Charmaine
C
Clinical Neurosciences, School of Translational Medicine, University of Manchester, Salford, UK. charmaine.childs@manchester.ac.uk
Jones
Anthony K P
AK
Tyrrell
Pippa J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001831:Body Temperature; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C115012:human epithelial antigen-125; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm