Heat stroke (heat exhaustion, heat hyperpyrexia; ICD-10-GM T67.0: Heat stroke and sunstroke) is the most severe form of heat injury in which there is a marked increase in body temperature that can lead to cardiovascular failure.
To be distinguished from heat stroke are:
- Heat exhaustion – results from fluid loss and electrolyte depletion (salt depletion of the body) – without appropriate external supply – from profuse sweating, resulting in weakness, nausea (nausea)/vomiting, diarrhea (diarrhea), cramps, visual disturbances, cephalgia (headache), ringing in the ears, anuria (maximum 100 ml of urine per day), circulatory insufficiency (circulatory weakness), psychoneurotic disorders; symptoms develop over several days (3-5 days). Complication: heat stroke (see above).
- Heat collapse (synonyms: heat fainting, heat syncope) – results from heat-induced dilatation (widening) of peripheral blood vessels, resulting in brief unconsciousness, often heralded by dizziness and nausea (vomiting)/vomiting.
- Heat cramp – results from fluid and electrolyte loss (salt depletion of the body, especially sodium) due to increased sweating, resulting in vertigo (dizziness), weakness and muscle cramps.
- Sunstroke (synonyms: insolation, heliosis, ictus solari, insolation meningism) – results from prolonged direct sunlight on the unprotected head and neck, with the consequence of irritation of the meninges (meninges) and brain tissue, which may lead to an inflammatory reaction and in severe cases may progress to cerebral edema (brain swelling).
The following epidemiological data refer to heat stroke.
Sex ratio: men and women are equally affected.
Frequency peak: the maximum occurrence of heat stroke is in childhood and in older persons.
Course and Prognosis: Sunstroke, heat syncope (brief loss of consciousness due to heat), heat cramps, and heat exhaustion are conditions that are usually easily treated. Initial measures include shaded cool environment, cooling of the head, elevation of the upper body, and oral administration of fluids (electrolyte solutions).Heat stroke is considered a life-threatening condition. In this case, vital functions must be secured immediately and effective cooling measures (e.g., ice water enemas) must be taken. In an emergency, there is a risk of multi-organ failure, i.e. simultaneous or sequential failure or severe functional impairment of various vital organ systems of the body. In addition, there is a risk of coagulation disorders and cerebral edema (fluid retention in the brain).
The lethality (mortality related to the total number of people suffering from the disease) of heat stroke ranges from 8% to 80% (younger people at least 5%; old people: > 50%).
