Sunstroke

Also called heatstroke, this condition involves a very high body temperature and lack of sweating followed by loss of consciousness due to excess exposure to heat and the sun. Very young children are particularly vulnerable to sunstroke. This condition is potentially fatal unless treated quickly. It is a particular problem for young athletes training during hot and humid temperatures. Even a rise of a few degrees from the body’s normal temperature can have profound effects on the way the metabolism works.

Symptoms
Very often, a child exposed to very hot temperatures will first experience “heat exhaustion,” which is characterized by dizziness, fatigue, headache, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, and muscle cramps. The warning signs that this is becoming a potentially fatal sunstroke are:

• hot, flushed skin
• no sweating
• a high body temperature
• confusion
• nausea and vomiting
• loss of consciousness

Cause
Exposure to extreme heat can cause a breakdown in the body’s ability to lower its own temperature through sweating, and body temperature can soar to 107°F or higher. If the body is dehydrated and cannot cool the skin through sweat evaporation, this can cause the failure of many of the body’s vital systems, such as the heart, lungs, kidney, and brain. The sufferer can fall into shock and unconsciousness.

Treatment
Quick cooling is the most important aspect of treatment for sunstroke, and the quicker treatment is given, the more likely a child can make a full recovery. An ice bag or crushed ice should be applied immediately; alternatively, a sheet should be hosed down with cold water and wrapped around the patient until emergency medical help arrives.