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.
Clinical Neurosciences, School of Translational Medicine, University of Manchester, Salford, UK. charmaine.childs@manchester.ac.uk
Charmaine
C
Childs
Anthony K P
AK
Jones
Pippa J
PJ
Tyrrell
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