Last reviewed: 4 Feb 2021
Last updated: 16 Jun 2020
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- profound central nervous system disturbance
- hyperthermia
Other diagnostic factors
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
- anxiety
- dizziness
- tachycardia
- jaundice
- muscle tenderness
- hypotension
- gastrointestinal bleeding
- bruising and skin bleeding
Risk factors
- older age
- impaired cognition
- patients unable to care for themselves
- medications
- people who are unacclimatized to hot environments
- young, active people exercising intensely under hot, humid conditions
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- core temperature measurement
- serum electrolytes
- CBC
- LFTs
- metabolic profile
- renal function tests
- creatine kinase
- prothrombin time, activated PPT, and INR
- lactic acid
- urinalysis
- chest x-ray
- arterial blood gas
- medication/toxicology screen
- thyroid function tests
- plasma glucose
Investigations to consider
- cranial CT scan
- lumbar puncture
- blood culture
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Assistant Professor
Tufts University School of Medicine
Boston
MA
Disclosures
JLG declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Clinical Lecturer
University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center
Ann Arbor
MI
Disclosures
MB declares that he has no competing interests.
Honorary Professor
Department of Physiology
UCL
London
Disclosures
JM declares that he has no competing interests.
Director
Department of Emergency Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York
NY
Disclosures
PH declares that he has no competing interests.
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