The effect of cold stimulation to the face on the metabolic rate of the febrile piglet

• Published in: Biology of the neonate Vol. 77; no. 3; pp. 174 - 180
• Main Authors: VOSS, L. J, GALLAND, B. C, BOLTON, D. P. G, TAYLOR, B. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel Karger 01.01.2000; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Body Temperature; Cold Temperature; Ear - physiopathology; Emergency and intensive care: neonates and children. Prematurity. Sudden death; Face - physiopathology; Female; Fever - metabolism; Fever - physiopathology; Intensive care medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Oxygen Consumption; Rectum - physiopathology; Respiration; Salmonella; Swine; Human; Energy metabolism; Cold; Pathogenesis; Sudden death; Oxygen consumption; Infant; Fever; Pig; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Newborn animal; Artiodactyla; Hyperthermia; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0006-3126; 1661-7800; 1421-9727; 1661-7819
• DOI: 10.1159/000014213

Sudden infant death syndrome has been associated with winter climates, infection, and overwrapping of babies. The hypothesis has been tested in this laboratory that two different causes of increased metabolic rate, high core temperature (via the van't Hoff or 'Q10' effect) and face-cooling, might synergistically induce hyperthermia. This proved not to be the case. We now report on a 'febrile' state adding Salmonella abortus equi pyrogens. The combination of face-cooling and pyrogen administration to 14 already hot piglets produced an increase in oxygen consumption of 47% in 6 of the animals (19% overall). Face-cooling alone caused a 6.5% fall in oxygen consumption, and injection of pyrogens alone had no effect on oxygen consumption. We conclude that there may be a danger of life-threatening hyperthermia in the combination of a cold face and febrile state.