Exercise-induced hyperthermia in childhood: a case report and pilot study.
Hyperthermia is characterized by an increase of body core temperature due to exogenous heat exposure and/or endogenous heat production. Contrary to fever the hypothalamic-controlled temperature set point remains unchanged.


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate that exercise-induced hyperthermia is a common phenomenon in childhood.


METHODS
We describe a 5-year-old boy, who attended our outpatient clinic with a 6-month observation period of exercise-induced hyperthermia with rectal temperatures up to 39.0 degrees C. Characteristically temperature dropped to normal values after cessation of exercise.


METHODS
In eight children aged 5-8, tympanic and rectal temperatures were measured before and after exercise.


RESULTS
The rectal temperature increases frequently after exercise (p < 0.001), whereas tympanic temperature did not (p = 0.2).


CONCLUSIONS
Benign hyperthermia should be considered in children with increased body temperature of unknown sources. The site of temperature measurement might be critical in the identification of this condition.
Kallinich
Tilmann
T
Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Immunology, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. tilmann.kallinich@charite.de
Keitzer
R
R
Puskas
E
E
Boldt
F
F
D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004423:Ear / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012007:Rectum / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports