Heat Stroke

Abstract

HEAT stroke is an acute medical emergency. The unconscious hyperpyretic patient (rectal temperature of 41 to 43°C) is in grave danger of death. Mortality rates ranging from 17 to 70 per cent are reported.^{1 2 3} Heat stroke is caused by excessive heat storage when high ambient temperature prevents heat dissipation by radiation or convection and sweat evaporation is limited by humidity. Not only does prompt recognition and treatment by immediate cooling and supportive measures greatly reduce the previously reported high mortality,^{4 5} but understanding of the cause makes the catastrophe of heat stroke, in great measure, preventable.^{6 , 7} Body-Temperature Regulation and Factors Inducing . . .