Heat Stroke and Sunstroke: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Differential diagnoses for suspected heat stroke.

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic disorders (E00-E90).

Pheochromocytoma – neuroendocrine (affecting the nervous system) catecholamine-producing tumor of the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla (85% of cases) or sympathetic ganglia (nerve cord that runs along the spine in the thoracic (chest) and abdominal (stomach) regions) (15% of cases).
Thyrotoxic crisis – acute and life-threatening metabolic derailment; usually on the ground of existing hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism).

Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

Circulatory system (I00-I99)

Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)

Disorder of consciousness, unspecified
Delirium tremens (synonyms alcohol delirium; alcohol withdrawal).
Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
Epileptic seizure (seizure)
Brain abscess – accumulation of pus in the brain (headache, nausea, vomiting, epileptic seizures, clouding of consciousness).
Meningitis (meningitis).

Injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98).

Heat exhaustion
Heat cramps
Heat exhaustion, hydroprive (water deficiency) or saloprive (salt deficiency).
Malignant hyperthermia – life-threatening metabolic derailment caused by genetic dysregulation within skeletal muscle; in addition to numerous symptoms, a sharp increase in body temperature occurs.
Toxicological diseases
- Aspirin overdose
- Anticholinergic toxidrome – symptoms caused by an overdose of anticholinergic drugs.
- Malignant neuroleptic syndrome (MNS; synonym: malignant neuroleptic syndrome) – side effect of taking neuroleptics (antipsychotics).
- Serotonin syndrome (synonym: serotonergic syndrome) – complex of symptoms caused by accumulation of the tissue hormone and neurotransmitter serotonin or serotonin-like substances in parts of the body.
- Drug interactions (amphetamines, heroin, cocaine, MDMA, PCP).

Further