Thermoregulatory problem of quadriplegics in the summer of Thailand.

ABSTRACT

Research was carried out on the changes in body temperature of patients suffering from high spinal injury. The tests were carried out during Thailand, hot season to compare the normal person’s body temperature with that of the patients’. The work was done on three patients (complete C4 lesion, complete C6, incomplete C7 lesion) primarily, by obtaining the room and body temperatures from time to time during the period from 07.00 to 16.00 hours. It was aligned for the patients to be lying in bed beside the wall for one day and to be close to the window for the following day. One of the patients (incomplete C7 lesion) was re-experimented on for another two days in late summer, (lying in bed beside the wall). Altogether there were 10 studies. Prior to and in between the sessions, any situation that would have assisted in increasing or decreasing the body temperature change of these patients was removed. It was found that the three patients’ core and surface temperatures increased. From morning till midday, two out of the three patients’ body temperature rose to 38 centigrade and as late afternoon approached, they were distressed whereas the other whose body temperature rose only to 37.65 + 0.05 centigrade was only uncomfortable.