How long does it take for the fever to subside after a brainstem hemorrhage?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on January 27, 2025
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For patients with brainstem hemorrhage, it is common to develop high fever after the bleeding, where the body temperature often exceeds 38.5℃. There are many reasons for the occurrence of high fever. It can be considered that the presence of an intracerebral hematoma compresses the hypothalamic temperature set point, causing abnormalities in the set point function and leading to central fever, with temperatures often reaching 39℃ or even higher than 40℃. At this time, the use of antipyretic drugs alone generally has poor therapeutic effect. It often requires the effective absorption of the intracerebral hematoma for the body temperature to gradually return to normal. Another situation, considering the occurrence of pulmonary infection, it is necessary to promptly provide patients with antibiotics for effective treatment. When the pulmonary infection is effectively controlled, the body temperature will also gradually decrease.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Is brainstem hemorrhage painful?

Brainstem hemorrhage is relatively painful, and most patients with brainstem hemorrhage will exhibit severe headaches and dizziness. The nature of the pain is intense, resembling a cutting pain that is hard to tolerate. However, when the amount of bleeding is large, it can quickly cause damage to important nerve nuclei in the brainstem, and even affect the central nervous system responsible for consciousness, leading to the patient falling into a stupor or coma. In such cases, the patient may not feel pain, but for those who are conscious, severe headaches and dizziness, accompanied by a strong sense of vertigo, especially noticeable when changing positions, often occur.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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How many milliliters of brainstem hemorrhage are fatal?

Brainstem hemorrhage does not have a specific volume that can be fatal; the brainstem is the central hub for respiration and circulation in the human body, including the medulla, midbrain, and pons. For the pons and midbrain, a hemorrhage of five milliliters can be fatal. For the medulla, which is very narrow and densely packed with neural tissue, even one milliliter of bleeding can suddenly cause the patient's respiration and circulation to stop. Therefore, even one milliliter of brainstem hemorrhage is an immeasurable loss, and brainstem hemorrhages should be classified as critically severe. Immediate hospitalization and treatment are crucial to achieve a relatively better prognosis.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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Is brainstem hemorrhage dangerous?

The brainstem is the central hub of life in the human body, controlling vital functions such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, body temperature, and consciousness. Bleeding in this area is extremely dangerous and is a life-threatening condition. Clinically, it has a high mortality and disability rate. For hemorrhages larger than 5 mL, most patients will succumb to central respiratory and circulatory failure within 48 hours. Even if the bleeding is less than 5 mL, although aggressive resuscitation may save the patient's life, most will suffer from severe brain dysfunction such as hemiplegia, aphasia, or a vegetative state. Therefore, brainstem hemorrhage is very dangerous.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Dietary Precautions for Brainstem Hemorrhage

For patients with brainstem hemorrhage, attention should be given to their diet. During the acute phase, it is advisable to choose a liquid diet, as most patients with brainstem hemorrhage often have severe swallowing dysfunction. Failing to choose a liquid diet can lead to aspiration, which in turn causes aspiration pneumonia. Furthermore, patients should avoid certain foods for a short period, particularly greasy or spicy foods, as most patients experience significant reductions in digestive function during the acute phase. If dietary intake is not carefully managed, patients often experience significant abdominal pain and diarrhea. Once the patient's condition stabilizes, it is appropriate to include fresh vegetables and fruits in their diet.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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What causes brainstem hemorrhage?

In clinical practice, the main factor causing brainstem hemorrhage is hypertension. Some secondary factors include diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking, drinking, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. These factors combined can more easily lead to brainstem hemorrhage. Among them, hypertension has the most significant impact. Continuous rise or fluctuation of blood pressure can easily cause vascular fluctuations, especially damaging the inner lining of the vessels and leading to arteriosclerosis. The brainstem is supplied by the basilar artery, and the pontine arteries branch vertically from the brainstem. When blood pressure rises, it seldom reduces the impact on the vessels and can directly cause the vessels to rupture, resulting in bleeding in the brainstem, which is the primary cause. Therefore, it is crucial to strictly control blood pressure in patients with brainstem hemorrhage to reduce the likelihood of recurrence later.