Postmortem Caloricity

Postmortem Caloricity


INTRODUCTION:

  • It is a condition where there is rise of body temperature after death instead of cooling of body.
  • Although the process of postmortem glycogenolysis, which occurs in all bodies soon after death, can produce up to 140 calories which can rise the body temperature by about 2 degrees, yet the temperature shows further rise in all such conditions, e.g. asphyxial death, poisoning due to alcohol, dhatura and strychnine, brain-stem hemorrhage, deaths due to infectious diseases, etc.

ETIOLOGY:

  • Violent muscular contractions before death
  1. Tetanus
  2. Strychnine poisoning
  3. Seizures
  • Asphyxial deaths – strangulation
  • Septicemic deaths – cholera and other infections
  • Death due to temperature regulation disorders
  • Sunstroke
  • Pontine haemorrhage
  • Postmortem glycogenolysis
  • Normal phenomenon; increase of up to 2ºC.

Causes of death

  • Septicemia:Infectious disease; Bacteremia; Tetanus, rabies, yellow fever;
  • Asphyxia;
  • Severe convulsions:Tetanus;Strychnine;
  • Hyperpyrexia at death:Heat stroke (sun stroke); Pontine haemorrhage High atmospheric temperature;
  •  Peritonitis, meningitis, nephritis;
  • Alcohol poisoning.

Exam Important

  • Postmortem caloricity is seen in Strychnine poisoning  
  • Postmortem caloricity is seen in  death due to Sunstroke, Septicemia & Tetanus
  • Postmortem caloricity is increased temp within 2 hours of death
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