$Unique_ID{PAR00096}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Heatstroke}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Heatstroke lungs muscles fire feeling Dry mouth Breathe Breathing
difficulty Dizziness Dizzy Nausea Nauseated Blurred vision Hot dry skin High
fever sweating Absence water lack diarrhea Salt tablets tablet body
temperature perspiration fluids dehydration dehydrating dehydrated brain
damage Heatstrokes}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Heatstroke


     Emergency Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Feeling that the lungs and muscles are "on fire"
     - Dry mouth
     - Breathing difficulty
     - Dizziness
     - Nausea
     - Blurred vision
     - Hot, dry skin
     - High fever
     - Absence of sweating

     IMPORTANT
     - A child with heatstroke who does not revive within minutes after
       treatment is in danger and requires immediate emergency care.

     EMERGENCY TREATMENT
     1. Call for emergency help.
     2. Remove the child's clothing and lay the child down, with the feet
        higher than the head, in a shady area.
     3. Pour cold water over the child's body, rub the body with ice, and then
        fan the child to promote evaporation.
     4. When the child is conscious and the body temperature is normal, give
        plenty of fruit juices to replace fluids and minerals lost during
        dehydration.
     5. Watch the child closely and repeat treatment if the symptoms recur.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Heatstroke can be fatal if not treated immediately.
     - Heatstroke occurs most often when both temperature and humidity are
       high.
     - Strenuous exercise within one week of an attack of heatstroke increases
       the possibility of another attack.
     - Susceptibility to heatstroke is increased by lack of water, excessive
       sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea.
     - Salt tablets are not helpful in preventing heatstroke.


     Heatstroke is caused by a sudden, uncontrolled rise in body temperature.
Heatstroke occurs when the body is exposed to excessive heat but cannot
replace the body fluids lost through perspiration.  If the lost fluids are not
replaced, dehydration (depletion of body fluids) occurs and leads to a
decrease in blood volume.  At this point the body has to decide whether to
supply the diminished amount of blood to the internal organs or to the skin;
since the internal organs take priority, they will receive the blood.  At the
same time, the body loses its ability to sweat.  The situation becomes
critical for two reasons:  the body cannot produce enough sweat, so the normal
cooling mechanism of evaporation of sweat from the skin is lost; and the skin
is deprived of the blood supply that normally ensures that excess heat can be
released through the skin.
     If heatstroke is not treated quickly and correctly, it can cause
permanent brain damage or death.  When there is loss of blood volume, which
can mean that there is not enough blood to circulate through the body, the
victim goes into shock.  Also, at high temperatures the blood cannot clot
properly, which can result in leakage of blood from the vessels into body
organs.
     Heatstroke most often strikes athletes and other people who do strenuous
work in hot weather.  People who have had heatstroke once are more likely to
suffer another attack if they return to strenuous exercise within a week.
Lack of water, excessive sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea all increase the
body's susceptibility to heatstroke.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     The onset of heatstroke is signaled by a feeling that the lungs and
muscles are "on fire."  The child may have a dry mouth and blurred vision and
may experience dizziness, nausea, and difficulty in breathing.  However, the
most characteristic signs of heatstroke are extremely hot, flushed, dry skin;
high fever; and the complete absence of sweating, which usually leads to
unconsciousness.

HOME CARE

     If you suspect that your child has heatstroke, call immediately for
emergency help and then begin first aid.  Remove the child's clothing and
place him or her in a shady area.  Place the child in a reclining position
with the feet higher than the head.  Pour cold water over the child, rub the
body with ice, and then fan the child to promote evaporation, which will lower
the body temperature.  Continue this treatment until the child is conscious
and the body temperature is back to normal.  Then give fruit juices, which
will replace minerals as well as fluids lost during dehydration.  Watch the
child carefully; if the symptoms recur, repeat the treatment process.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  Heatstroke can cause brain damage or death if not treated correctly and
     promptly.  A child with heatstroke who does not revive within minutes
     requires professional emergency care immediately.
  -  Heatstroke occurs most often when both temperature and humidity are high.
  -  Strenuous exercise within one week of an attack of heatstroke may lead to
     another attack.
  -  Lack of water, excessive sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea increase the
     child's susceptibility to heatstroke.
  -  Taking salt tablets can increase rather than lessen a person's risk of
     getting heatstroke.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     If a child with heatstroke does not revive in minutes, injections of
special intravenous fluids will be necessary.

RELATED TOPICS:  Dehydration; Shock