DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAT STROLE AND HEAT EXHAUTION AND ITS TREATMENT

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a milder entity than heat-stroke that exists on the same continuum of heat-related illness. Heat exhaustion typically is associated with nonspecific signs and symptoms and mild pyrexia Patients may experience nausea and malaise, and show signs of circulatory collapse. Evidence of central nervous system dysfunction should trigger a diagnosis of heatstroke rather than heat exhaustion.

Heat stroke

Heatstroke is a much more severe entity than heat exhaustion. The diagnosis of heatstroke rests on two critical factors: hyperthermia and central nervous system dysfunction. Heat-stroke is a medical emergency, and mortality can approach 10 percent. It is essential that clinicians recognize the signs of heatstroke and initiate cooling rapidly. When appropriate treatment is provided without delay, survival can approach 100 percent. Heatstroke typically range from 40°C to 44°C (104°F to 111.2°F), with reports as high as 47°C (116.6°F), and should be monitored rectally or with a bladder or esophageal probe. However, elevated temperatures are not necessary for a diagnosis of heatstroke. Peripheral temperature measurements may be as much as 1°C lower than core readings, and cooling by emergency medical technicians can falsely decrease peripheral temperatures further.

	Core Temperature	Signs	Symptoms
Heatstroke	> 40°C	Anhydrosis	Fatigue and malaise
		Cardiac arrhythmias	Visual disturbances
		Hyperpyrexia	Weakness
		Coma	Dizziness
		Confusion	Headache
		Shock	Nausea

 

	Core Temperature	Signs	Symptoms
Heat Exhaustion	37°C to 40°C (98.6°F to 104°F)	Anxiety	Anorexia
		Confusion	Dizziness
		Cutaneous flushing	Fatigue and malaise
		Hypotension	Headache
		Vomiting	Nausea
			Visual disturbances
			Weakness