Which of the following are classic signs of a thyroid storm?

Which of the following are classic signs of a thyroid storm?

• A. Very high fever, tachycardia, and tachypnea
• B. Low fever, bradycardia, and hypoventilation
• C. Weight gain and constipation
• D. Normal temperature with confusion

Answer: (A)

Thyroid storm is an extreme hypermetabolic state driven by massive thyroid hormone effects and sympathetic overactivity. That surge pushes heat production and cardiovascular/respiratory demand upward, so fever, a very fast heart rate, and rapid breathing are the hallmarks you’d expect to see. The described combination—very high fever with tachycardia and tachypnea—best captures this intense, adrenergically driven response. The other descriptions don’t fit: low fever with slow heart rate and shallow breathing suggests a different, typically hypoactive state; weight gain and constipation point to hypothyroidism; normal temperature with confusion lacks the pronounced hyperthermia and systemic hypermetabolism characteristic of a thyroid storm.

Thyroid storm is an extreme hypermetabolic state driven by massive thyroid hormone effects and sympathetic overactivity. That surge pushes heat production and cardiovascular/respiratory demand upward, so fever, a very fast heart rate, and rapid breathing are the hallmarks you’d expect to see. The described combination—very high fever with tachycardia and tachypnea—best captures this intense, adrenergically driven response. The other descriptions don’t fit: low fever with slow heart rate and shallow breathing suggests a different, typically hypoactive state; weight gain and constipation point to hypothyroidism; normal temperature with confusion lacks the pronounced hyperthermia and systemic hypermetabolism characteristic of a thyroid storm.