Heat Stroke, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Heat stroke, also known as sun stroke, is a type of severe heat illness that results in a body temperature greater than 40.0 °C (104.0 °F) and confusion.[4] Other symptoms include red skin, headache, and dizziness.[2] There is generally a lack of sweating in classic heat stroke while sweating is generally present in exertional heatstroke.[5] Onset can be sudden or gradual.[3] Complications may include seizures, rhabdomyolysis, or kidney failure.[3]

Heat stroke occurs because of high external temperatures or physical exertion.[3][4] Risk factors include heat waves, high humidity, certain drugs such as diuretics, beta blockers, or alcohol, heart disease, and skin disorders.[3] Cases not associated with physical exertion typically occur in those at the extremes of age or with long term health problems.[3] Diagnosis is based on symptoms.[3] It is a type of hyperthermia.[3] It is distinct from a fever, where there is a physiological increase in the temperature set point.[3]

Preventive measures include drinking sufficient fluids and avoiding excessive heat.[6] Treatment is by rapid physical cooling of the body and supportive care.[4] Recommended methods include spraying the person with water and using a fan, putting the person in ice water, or giving cold intravenous fluids.[4] While it is reasonable to add ice packs around a person, this by itself is not routinely recommended.[4]

Heat stroke results in more than 600 deaths a year in the United States.[4] Rates have increased between 1995 and 2015.[3] The risk of death is less than 5% in those with exercise-induced heat stroke and as high as 65% in those with non-exercise induced cases.[3]