What physiological condition is known as an increase in body temperature?

The physiological condition characterized by an increase in body temperature is hyperthermia. This term specifically refers to the body’s temperature rising above the normal range due to factors such as excessive heat exposure, overexertion in hot conditions, or illness.

In hyperthermia, the body cannot effectively dissipate heat, leading to a dangerous rise in core temperature, and it can result in serious health issues if not addressed. It’s important to distinguish hyperthermia from conditions like fever, which is generally a regulated response to infection and part of the immune system's mechanisms, while hyperthermia signifies an uncontrolled increase in body temperature.

Heat exhaustion, while related to elevated body temperature, is a syndrome that involves other symptoms such as heavy sweating and weakness, typically due to loss of water and electrolytes, rather than just an isolated increase in temperature. Hypothermia, on the other hand, is a completely different condition characterized by abnormally low body temperature.