Heatstroke in a 7-year-old child. What are the symptoms of heatstroke in children? How to recognize heatstroke at sea

The human body has the ability to regulate heat exchange. That is, in cold conditions, it can retain heat, and when the temperature rises, it can vigorously emit it. It is a natural defense mechanism that helps maintain optimal heat levels. When this mechanism is disrupted, there is a danger to health and even life!

In children, these disorders occur very quickly. Most of all, newborns and infants under one year old are susceptible to heatstroke, since their natural heat regulation mechanism has not yet been properly established.

Parents should be able to recognize the signs of incipient heatstroke in a child and take urgent action. The more intense and prolonged the effect of high temperatures on the child's body, the higher the risk: the work of internal organs is disrupted, they can fail, the most critical cases end in death ...

Signs of heatstroke in a newborn baby under one year old

We say these scary things so that you understand: parental neglect and frivolity can be expensive.

Meanwhile, every child and adult is capable of getting heatstroke: the condition develops sharply. But the worst can be easily prevented by responding quickly and correctly to changes in the child's condition.

The most rapidly deteriorating condition of children under one year old. It is necessary to take action at the first sign of overheating:

the child becomes restless, capricious, agitated;
the skin heats up and turns red;
cold sweat appears;
the baby is breathing heavily, yawns;
belching appears;
diarrhea occurs.

If the thermal effect is not eliminated at this stage, then the situation will quickly worsen:

the skin turns pale;
activity is greatly reduced, the child becomes lethargic;
he is very hot but does not sweat;
the reaction to stimuli is dulled;
there are spasms, cramps on the face and in the limbs.

Then breathing slows down or stops altogether, a coma may occur.

How to recognize heatstroke in children

Children can frolic, play and run even in extreme heat conditions. It is very easy for them to "earn" heatstroke, especially if parents do not take care of the safety of their children. Overheating is indicated by the following signs:

weakness;
irritability, aggression;
headache, dizziness;
darkening in the eyes;
noise in ears;
dilated pupils;
nausea;
pain and discomfort in the abdomen;
thirst and dryness of the lips;
redness, and then blanching, severe dryness of the skin;
high temperature in the absence of sweating;
increased heart rate and weakness;
acceleration of heartbeats;
discoordination of movements;
inhibited reaction (the child weakly or does not react at all to stimuli).

This is followed by heatstroke, in which blood flows from the nose, a very high temperature rises, the skin becomes very hot and dry, breathing is frequent and shallow, there are convulsions, vomiting, loss of consciousness.

Any signs of heatstroke in a child, regardless of age, can manifest themselves individually or in combination, in any sequence, so it is important not to overlook anything.

What to do if a child has heatstroke: treatment and prevention

For any manifestations of overheating, the child must be provided with first aid. Remove clothing from it and place it away from sunlight, ideally in a cool, well-ventilated area. Let someone sit nearby and wave their fan, you can turn on the fan, but make sure that the air flow is not directed directly into the victim's face. Talk to him so that the baby does not get scared and feels safe.

Begin to solder the child. Let's drink a little, but often, and cold and sweet drinks are contraindicated in this case - it can cause stomach cramps and provoke vomiting, and the body has already lost a lot of fluid and is most likely dehydrated. Acidified tea, warm water, dried fruit compote, rosehip or chamomile decoction are suitable as a drink.

It is important to know that antipyretic drugs are not able to bring down the high fever with heatstroke. This should be done through exposure to the skin and body of the child from the outside. If he feels okay, let him take a cool summer shower. If the fumes are bad, wipe it off with a sponge soaked in cool water, apply a cold compress to your head, if you have impaired pulse and breathing, lightly slap a damp towel on your chest.

In case of loss of consciousness, it is necessary to bring a cotton wool soaked in ammonia to the nose. In this case, as well as in case of convulsive syndrome and heatstroke in children under 3 years old, it is necessary to call an ambulance. If there is no breathing or pulse, the child must be urgently taken to the hospital.

From now on, always try not to allow the situation to recur by preventing overheating. Do not wrap the newborn, do not dress him too warmly. Always use clothes made from natural light-colored fabrics only. A hat, if the child is under the sun, must be worn! Never leave your baby in the car in the heat!

During periods of heat, it is not recommended to introduce a new complementary food to the child, but you need to give more than usual to drink, and infants should be additionally fed.

Never leave your baby in direct sunlight during times of high activity. After 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can walk with your baby in the summer only in the shade!

As for older children, the rules are practically the same: light breathable clothing, a hat, minimal physical activity under the scorching sun, walking in the shade. The diet during periods of heat should be dominated by light meals, plant foods, the consumption of fats and proteins should be minimized, and the amount of drink should be increased. It is necessary to dose children's play and physical activity during periods of extreme heat, occasionally arrange breaks and rest, give up long walking and transport walks.

Please note that heatstroke develops when a child is exposed to high temperatures for a long time. And the risk of this condition increases along with an increase in air humidity.

Especially for - Elena Semenova

Vacation season is ahead. We all missed the sun and warmth during the winter. But the sun and heat are not as harmless as they seem at first glance. Even in our latitudes, no one is safe from sun and heatstroke. Especially when it comes to children.

Today we will talk about a topic that is very relevant for all parents in the summer: heat and sunstroke. Moreover, the relevance remains regardless of where you will rest with your children - at sea or in the country.

Let's analyze the causes and symptoms of heat and sunstroke, first aid, and, of course, the prevention of such conditions.

The consequences of overheating are often underestimated by parents. Heatstroke in a child is a serious problem. The insidiousness of this condition lies in the fact that the first symptoms of the disease can be perceived as the onset of a cold or simple malaise and fatigue.

Late diagnosis always leads to a neglected condition and, therefore, to serious consequences that require serious treatment. That is why every parent needs to know everything about overheating of the body and about the measures to prevent it.

What is heat and sunstroke?

Heatstroke is a pathological condition in which all thermoregulation processes in the body are disrupted due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. That is, a large amount of heat comes from outside. In addition, heat is generated in the body itself (the mechanism of heat production works), and there is no heat transfer.

Heatstroke can develop outdoors in hot weather, in a hotly heated room. This can also happen in conditions of not very high ambient temperatures, if the child is very warmly wrapped.

Sunstroke is a separate form of heatstroke. This condition is characterized by impaired health due to exposure to direct sunlight directly on the head of the child.

Young children are especially susceptible to this condition. In babies, thermoregulation processes are still imperfect due to age. They often develop heatstroke even at low ambient temperatures. Also in young children there is a rapid progression of the disease.

In infants, it is difficult to diagnose overheating by the fact that children cannot complain, tell what worries them. And the symptoms of a child's overheating are nonspecific. Lethargy, capricious behavior, tearfulness can be for various reasons. It is not always possible to immediately associate these symptoms with overheating. Therefore, it is very important to protect babies from the sun and heat, and indeed from any overheating.

Overheating reasons

Although sunstroke is considered a special form of heatstroke, they are not the same. If only because they have different causes.

In other words, if a child is in the shade in hot weather, with a hat, then he will not have sunstroke, but he is not insured against the development of heatstroke.

The cause of heatstroke is the general overheating of the whole organism with prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Due to overheating in the work of the thermoregulation center in the diencephalon, a breakdown occurs. The body actively produces heat, but cannot give it away.

Heat transfer normally occurs mainly with the production of sweat. Sweat evaporates from the surface of the skin and cools the human body.

Additional options for heat transfer are the expenditure of energy (heat) for warming the inhaled air and expansion of blood capillaries near the skin surface (a person turns red).

During the heat, little heat is spent on warming the inhaled air. And the other two thermoregulatory mechanisms work. If we, of course, do not interfere with them ...

What to do to avoid getting in the way? It's that simple! First, parents should pay special attention so that the child has something to sweat, and his clothes allow the sweat to evaporate.

There is one more nuance here. Liquid (in this case, sweat) evaporates if the surrounding air is drier than the layer of air directly near the body, under clothing. In high humidity, sweat flows in a stream, but does not evaporate. Simple laws of physics work. Consequently, there is no cooling of the skin.

Plus, to avoid overheating, clothing should be loose so that heat can be freely removed from the skin from the dilated blood capillaries.

Let's summarize a little what has been said and add something, systematically answering the question: "What leads to a violation of heat transfer?"

So, the following factors hinder the heat transfer and cooling of the body:

heat (air temperature above 30 ° C). At temperatures above 36 ° C, heat is not removed from the skin surface at all, and sweat does not evaporate;
high air humidity;
improperly dressed (dressed too warmly or dressed in synthetic clothing in which the skin cannot breathe, and the sweat does not evaporate or absorb);
prolonged exposure to the sun (no shade);
intense physical activity in the heat;
lack of fluid intake (the child drinks little);
excess subcutaneous fat in overweight children interferes with the release of heat.
fair-skinned, fair-haired children do not tolerate heat worse;
taking antiallergic (antihistamines) drugs slows down heat transfer;
a violation of the heat transfer process can occur due to the pathology of the central nervous system or due to the physiological immaturity of the thermoregulation system in infants.

Heatstroke can also develop in babies who are in a closed car in the heat or during a traffic jam, when the car is practically motionless. When the outside temperature is around 32-33 ° C, the temperature inside the car can rise to 50 ° C within 15-20 minutes.

Now let's talk about sunstroke. It is a consequence of exposure to the direct rays of the sun on the head of a person. That is, the cause of sunstroke can be expressed in a simple speech phrase: "The head is baked."

The timing of the onset of signs of sunstroke varies. It happens that something amiss is felt immediately, while in the sun. But often the symptoms of sunstroke develop delayed, 6-9 hours after returning from a walk in direct sunlight.

The main signs of heatstroke

In the heatstroke clinic, three degrees of severity can be distinguished.

With a mild degree, headache, dizziness, nausea, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and dilated pupils appear. At the same time, the skin is moist.

Even with a mild form of heatstroke, a doctor must be consulted. Hospitalization is usually not needed if assistance was provided to the child on time.

A moderate severity of heatstroke is characterized by an increasing headache combined with nausea and vomiting. The skin is red. Temperatures rise up to 40 ° C. The heartbeat and respiratory rate increase.

The child has a pronounced weakness (unwillingness to move). There is a confused consciousness, a state of stunnedness, the baby's movements are uncertain. Light-headedness or short-term loss of consciousness may occur.

Loss of consciousness, a coma-like state, and the appearance of seizures indicate a severe form. Psychomotor agitation, hallucinations, and confusion of speech may also develop.

On examination, the skin is dry and hot. The temperature reaches 42 ° C, the pulse is weak and frequent (up to 120-130 beats per minute). Breathing is frequent, shallow, intermittent. Short-term respiratory arrest is possible. Heart sounds are muffled.

The main symptoms of sunstroke

Weakness, lethargy, headache, accompanied by nausea and vomiting are pronounced.

Vomiting or diarrhea is often one of the first signs of a stroke. Older children complain of tinnitus, flashing of flies. The baby's body temperature rises.

The skin is red, especially on the face and head. The pulse is frequent, weak filling, breathing is rapid. There is increased sweating. Epistaxis often occurs.

Symptoms of severe injury are similar to those of heatstroke (loss of consciousness, disorientation, rapid and then slow breathing, muscle twitching).

Physicians distinguish another concept in violation of heat exchange - heat exhaustion. This condition may precede the development of a more serious pathological condition - heatstroke. Thus, we can say that heat exhaustion is a heat pre-shock.

With an untimely diagnosis or inadequate treatment of heat exhaustion, the process can progress and lead to disastrous consequences, sometimes even fatal.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke in the comparison table:

Face colour	Pale	Red with a bright blush
Leather	Wet, sticky	Dry, hot to the touch
Thirst	Pronounced	May already be absent
Sweating	Reinforced	Reduced
Consciousness	Fainting possible	Confused, possible loss of consciousness, disorientation
Headache	Is characteristic	Is characteristic
Body temperature	Normal or slightly elevated	High, sometimes 40 ° C and above
Breath	Normal	Accelerated, superficial
Palpitations	Rapid, weak pulse	Rapid, pulse can hardly be traced
Convulsions	Rarely	Present

First aid for overheating

Move your baby to a shade or cool, ventilated place. Try to keep the area around the victim open. It is necessary to exclude the mass gathering of people (onlookers). Call an ambulance.
Place the child in a horizontal position.
In case of impaired consciousness, the legs should be in an elevated position. Place clothes or a towel under your ankles. This will increase blood flow to the brain.
In case of nausea or vomiting that has already begun, turn your head to one side so that the child does not choke on vomit.
Take off your baby's outerwear. Free your neck and chest. It is better to remove tight or synthetic clothes altogether.
The child must be thoroughly drunk with water. Give water in small portions, but often. The water should not be very cold, as this can provoke stomach cramps and vomiting. It is better to drink with mineral water or special saline solutions (Regidron, Normohydron). The child loses salt with sweat. Due to their rapid mass loss, the concentration of electrolytes in the body decreases. This can lead to seizures. Saline solutions quickly restore the water-electrolyte composition
Soak any cloth in cool water and apply it to your forehead, neck, or back of your head. Wipe your baby's body with a wet cloth. You can gradually pour more and more water over your body with a temperature of about 20 ° C. It is impossible to sharply bring a heated baby into the water (sea, pond).
Then apply a cold compress (bag or bottle of cold water) to your forehead or back of your head. A very young child can be wrapped in a wet diaper or sheet.
Provide fresh air. Fan it in a fan-like motion.
If the child's consciousness becomes clouded, carefully let him smell a cotton ball soaked in 10% ammonia (available in any car medicine cabinet).
In an emergency, when the baby stops breathing, when the medical team has not yet arrived, you need to save the child yourself. We'll have to remember what was taught in the lessons of medical or military training. You need to tilt the child's head back slightly so that the chin goes forward. One hand should be placed on the chin and the other should be used to cover the baby's nose. Take a breath. Release air for 1-1.5 seconds into the baby's mouth, clasping the baby's lips tightly. Make sure the baby's ribcage rises. So you will understand that the air went into the lungs. After suffering a heat illness, it is simply necessary to adhere to bed rest for several days. These recommendations should not be violated. After all, this time is necessary for a small organism to restore the normal functioning of the nervous, cardiovascular systems, to normalize some metabolic processes.

10 main rules for the prevention of heat disorders

Parents should always remember about preventive measures for such conditions. Children are at risk. They can encounter heat or sunstroke even with short exposure to the sun or in a stuffy, hot room.

Prevention of heat disorders in children is best done in advance.

When walking in sunny weather, dress your child in light-colored clothes made from natural fabrics. White reflects the sun's rays. Loose natural fabrics allow the body to breathe and sweat to evaporate.
Always protect the baby's head with a light-colored panama hat or a brimmed hat. For an older child, protect your eyes with tinted glasses.
Avoid resting during the most sunny hours. This is from 12:00 to 16:00, and in the southern regions - even from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The child should not be in direct sunlight, that is, in open areas. It should be in the shade (under an umbrella, the sandbox should be with a roof).
Plan your vacation so that the child does not have intense physical activity in the heat (jumping on a trampoline, air slides, excursions).
Alternate sunbathing (up to 20 minutes) with bathing. It is better to sunbathe while on the move, and only in the morning and evening. Under no circumstances should a child spend their lunchtime sleep on the beach.
Children are absolutely not allowed to sunbathe, so do not insist that the child lie with you on the beach (sunbathe). Do not be indignant that he cannot lie quietly or sit for more than three seconds))
Children should drink a lot! Under normal conditions, a child should drink 1-1.5 liters of liquid. When the air temperature rises above 30 degrees, this volume can be up to 3 liters of water. Maintaining water balance is one of the important measures for the prevention of heat illness. Even breastfed babies need extra water. It will be more convenient for Mom to give it not through a spoon, but from a syringe without a needle. In this case, you need to direct the stream of water along the wall of the cheek. So he won't spit it out. Otherwise, he will definitely do it. He will quickly realize that this is not mother's milk at all, but something much less tasty ... Although I must say that some children drink water very willingly.
Periodically wipe your face and baby's arms with a wet diaper. Wash your baby often. This will help him cool down and wash away the annoying sweat that causes prickly heat in children instantly.
Proper nutrition in hot weather is also worth paying attention to. In hot weather, do not eat tightly. Children, as a rule, do not want to eat in the hours of the sun. Give the child the opportunity to snack on juicy fruits and vegetables, light milk products. Transfer a full meal to the evening. In hot weather, do not rush to go outside immediately after eating. At best, this can only be done in an hour.
At the slightest suspicion of feeling unwell and unwell, immediately stop walking or relaxing on the beach. Get medical attention.

These simple rules will help you and your children enjoy sunny weather without worrying about your health. May the sun be your joy!

Summer is undoubtedly the most favorite time of the year not only for most adults, but also for children. But in addition to the sun and heat, it poses a considerable threat to the health of young children. After all, babies often get heatstroke from a long stay in the heat. This is what our article will be about.

Heatstroke is the body's response to overheating.

Signs Description External Redness of the skin There is not only a blush on the cheeks, the hands, neck, back and tummy turn red, less often redness reaches the legs. General weakness The child does not want to engage in vigorous activity, he always tries to sit or even lie down, sluggishly answers questions. Dyspnea It manifests itself with moderate and severe heatstroke, any movement causes difficulty breathing, the baby begins to breathe through his mouth, often gasping for air. Vomit It is also typical for moderate severity of the disease, it becomes difficult for the stomach to digest the ingested food. Dry skin The normal reaction to heating is increased sweating, with heatstroke the skin becomes very dry, the back, armpits, palms do not sweat, thermoregulation is disturbed. Heat Although it is an external sign, it is not always possible to recognize it immediately, nevertheless, even if it seemed to you that the baby's skin became hotter than usual in warm weather, there is a reason to immediately return home and measure the temperature with a thermometer. Signs a child can complain about Dizziness It can be difficult to notice right away, the child himself may say that his head is spinning. Nausea No vomiting, but the baby feels uncomfortable. Darkening in the eyes A child can say that midges are flying in front of his eyes, complain that suddenly it becomes dark in his eyes. Muscle spasms Reduces limbs, weak twitching appears in the muscles.

Since the main cause of heatstroke is high temperature, all actions in this case should be aimed at reducing it.

Summer is a long-awaited time for every child. During this time of the year, especially on hot days, children spend a lot of time outside, so parents should remember that prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to heatstroke. It is very important to know how to prevent heatstroke and what to do if this trouble occurs with the child.

Many parents underestimate the dangers of heatstroke, and in vain - the duration of the child's stay in the open sun in the summer season must be strictly controlled.

What is heatstroke?

Heatstroke is a pathological condition of a person that occurs under the influence of high temperatures, in which the process of thermoregulation is disrupted. The body receives a large amount of heat from the outside, in addition to that generated as a result of vital activity, which leads to overheating.

Long stay leads to heatstroke:

outside in the summer heat;
in a room with a high air temperature;
clothes that are too warm out of season.

Heatstroke causes

The main reason is the strong overheating of the body. With a prolonged stay in a hot room or outside in the summer heat, a failure occurs in the part of the brain responsible for thermoregulation. The heat generated by humans is stored in the body and cannot be released.

The process of heat transfer in humans occurs when sweat is produced, which evaporates, cooling the body. Heat is also released when cold air is inhaled and the capillaries close to the surface of the skin expand. In summer, the air temperature is high, which means that the body does not generate heat for warming it. Other types of thermoregulation do their job well, if you do not create obstacles to them.

In order to protect the child from overheating, it is necessary to make sure that he has something to quench his thirst, and clothes do not interfere with the evaporation of sweat. Fluid from the surface of the body evaporates only if the ambient air is drier than the air under the clothes. With high humidity, sweat does not evaporate, but flows down in a stream, while the surface of the skin does not cool. Clothing should not be too close to the body so as not to interfere with heat dissipation.

The main factors preventing heat transfer are:

air temperature higher than body temperature, at which heat is not removed from the body;
high values of air humidity;
synthetic or too warm clothing;
prolonged exposure to direct sunlight;
physical activity in the summer heat;
excess weight;
light-skinned children are more prone to overheating;
pathology of the central nervous system;
unstable thermoregulation system.

Symptoms in children at different ages

The signs of hyperthermia in children are more pronounced than in adults, and the clinical condition can worsen very quickly.

Overheating leads to dehydration and intoxication of the body, which lead to serious complications and pose a threat to the health and life of the child. If you develop characteristic signs, you should consult a doctor.

Symptoms for heatstroke in infants are different. In order to provide timely assistance to the child and avoid the transition of the disease to a more severe form, it is necessary to know how it manifests itself and how long overheating in children lasts.

Signs in a baby

Babies under one year old are often overcooled and easily overheated, so there is no need to wrap them up in a well-heated room. Heatstroke can be determined by the following criteria:

the baby is crying loudly;
the face turns red, the temperature rises;
sticky sweat appears on the tummy and back;
signs of dehydration appear (reddened eyes, dry armpits and lips);
poor appetite;
general weakness, apathy.

In infants, the process of dehydration of the body occurs very quickly, therefore, at the first symptoms of heatstroke, it is necessary to seek medical help.

When a child has characteristic symptoms, he needs to provide first aid and go to a medical institution. If heatstroke in an infant is not recognized in time, severe dehydration and loss of consciousness may occur.

Symptoms in children over a year old

Clothes that are too warm also provoke overheating in children over a year old. This is also facilitated by the increased activity of babies, in which their body temperature rises, and clothing does not allow heat to come out. In unventilated, warm rooms, the likelihood of overheating increases.

In children over 1-2 years old, it is much easier to recognize heatstroke, since the symptoms are more pronounced:

with a mild degree of overheating, babies are characterized by increased physical activity, leading to a deterioration in the condition;
dizziness;
headache;
a strong feeling of thirst;
increased body temperature;
redness of the skin;
dry lips;
sudden bouts of vomiting;
nausea;
general weakness.

With mild heatstroke, the baby is weak and thirsty, nausea and vomiting are possible.

At the first symptoms of heatstroke in a child, you need to call a doctor. Before their arrival, parents need to do the following:

Move the child to a well-ventilated, cool area.
Lay the baby on a horizontal surface.
If a child is in a fainting state, it is necessary to raise his legs, first placing a towel or something from clothes under them. In this position, blood flow to the head improves.
If you vomit heavily, you need to turn your baby's head to one side to provide airflow to the lungs.
If clothing is made of synthetic materials or impedes movement, remove it completely.
To avoid dehydration, the child must be given water to drink. It should be given often in small sips. To restore the salt balance, it is better to give mineral water or saline solutions such as Rehydron, Trihydron, Reosalan - this will help prevent cramps.
Any cloth dampened with water should be applied to the back of the head and neck. You can also wipe the child's body with it or gradually douse it with water at room temperature. It is impossible to bring a hot baby into a cold pond.

In case of heatstroke, a cold compress must be applied to the child's forehead.

You need to put something cold on your forehead, such as a bottle or bag. The newborn can be completely wrapped in a wet towel or sheet.
For proper breathing, it is necessary to provide air flow with a fan or newspaper.
In case of a fainting state, the baby can be given a sniff of a cotton swab moistened with a solution of ammonia, which can be found in any car medicine cabinet.
In case of a sudden cessation of breathing in a child, if the medical team has not yet arrived, it is necessary to give him artificial respiration. To do this, the baby's head is slightly thrown back, one hand is covering the baby's nose, and the other is holding the chin. After a deep breath, air is released into the mouth for a few seconds. When air enters the lungs, the chest should rise.

Heatstroke treatment

Treatment of hyperthermia begins with first aid to the child. After the arrival of the doctors, the patient is hospitalized and the treatment is continued in a hospital setting. A child who has suffered from heatstroke must be treated. Otherwise, it is very difficult to avoid serious consequences for the health of the baby.

How to help a baby?

The first task of parents with heatstroke in infants is to lower body temperature. To do this, he must be completely undressed or undressed.

Then they move on to other cooling methods:

wipe the baby's bodies with water, the temperature of which should be at least 20 ° C, too cold water can provoke a deterioration;
wrap the newborn in a cold diaper, which must be changed every 8-10 minutes;
put the child in a bath with water at room temperature for 5-7 minutes.

If the procedures are carried out at home, then it is necessary that an air conditioner or fan is working in the room. If first aid is provided on the street, then the patient is transferred to the shade.

After overheating, the newborn is provided with a constant flow of fluid into the body. Every 30 minutes, your baby needs to drink at least 50 ml of water or breast milk. With hyperthermia, accompanied by vomiting, the dose of fluid is increased.

If heatstroke is accompanied by cardiac arrest, the baby is given artificial respiration, alternating with heart massage. Each inhalation should be followed by 5 presses on the lower part of the sternum.

Treatment of babies 2-3 years old

With hyperthermia in a 2-3-year-old child, treatment is carried out in a similar way. Ambulance doctors assess the general condition of the patient and, if necessary, hospitalize him in a hospital.

Treatment for heatstroke depends on its severity, sometimes doctors insist on hospitalization of the child

The drug therapy regimen for children under 4 years old is as follows:

taking anti-shock and antipyretic drugs with a dosage corresponding to the age of the child;
intravenous administration of solutions to normalize the electrolyte balance in the child's body;
taking hormonal drugs to improve hemodynamics;
anticonvulsants are prescribed as needed;
in critical situations, tracheal intubation is performed.

Therapy for children over 3 years old

Children of preschool and school age have more stable thermoregulation, but, despite this, they can also get heatstroke when they are in the sun for a long time or in a very hot room. In a hospital setting, therapy is performed using the following medications:

drugs Droperidol and Aminazin are administered intravenously according to the instructions;
saline solutions are poured using a dropper to prevent dehydration and normalize electrolyte levels;
cardiotonics normalize the work of the cardiovascular system;
hormonal agents;
the anticonvulsants Diazepam and Seduxen are used for treatment only when needed.

The consequences of hyperthermia

In case of hyperthermia, help should be provided immediately. If in the first hours after the detection of the pathology, no medical procedures are carried out, the child will have serious complications:

Thickening of the blood. It occurs due to lack of fluid, leads to heart failure, thrombosis, heart attack.
Severe renal failure. In most cases, it appears under the influence of metabolic products formed in the body at high temperatures.
Respiratory failure. It is associated with changes in the region of the brain responsible for respiratory function. With hyperthermia, it manifests itself in an acute form.
Damage to the central nervous system, the main symptoms of which are: severe vomiting, fainting, impaired hearing, speech and vision.
Shock is one of the most dangerous conditions associated with dehydration. With an imbalance of electrolytes in the body, the blood supply to most internal organs is disrupted.

In the hot season, after prolonged exposure to the sun, many people suffer from high fever, general weakness, headache and vomiting. Experts consider the appearance of these signs to be the consequence of critical overheating of the body, and the disease itself is called sunstroke - the symptoms and treatment of the disease practically do not differ in an adult or a child. However, even during the cold season, there is a risk of deteriorating health, the reason for this may be heat stroke (resulting from overheating in warm clothes or stuffy room).

What is sunstroke

Parents often tell their children about the need to put on panamas in the heat, and their concern is not unreasonable. Solar overheating (a type of heat) is the result of prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Under the influence of a high concentration of infrared radiation in the human brain, blood stagnation develops, which can provoke serious health problems. With overheating in the body, the process of heat generation is accelerated, but heat transfer slows down. The well-coordinated work of the body is disrupted, it is necessary to start treatment on time.

Symptoms

The severity of the disease and the rate of recovery of the body depend on the intensity and duration of exposure to infrared rays. In addition, the symptoms of sunstroke can be aggravated by high humidity and ambient temperatures above 25 degrees. Scientists have shown that the elderly and young children (under 2 years old) are more susceptible to overheating than others. The risk group also includes patients with brain diseases, disorders of the cardiovascular system and people who are intoxicated.

Signs of heat and sunstroke are similar in children and adults, but if, with thermal overheating, the ailment recedes earlier and easier, then when exposed to infrared rays, the symptoms differ depending on the form of the course of the disease:

Signs of sunstroke

The sooner a person or those around him notice signs of deterioration, the easier it will be to get rid of the consequences or prevent them altogether. With prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the skin, because a change in their color and temperature may indicate overheating. With a skin burn, pathological edema may begin, any touch often causes painful sensations. The choice of a treatment regimen depends on the presence and severity of the symptoms of the disease.

The course of overheating is often very fast and in many ways resembles the symptoms of acute cerebrovascular accident, so it is important to consult a doctor and get help at the first signs of the disease:

general weakness;
intense thirst;
feeling of stuffiness;
tachycardia;
rapid breathing;
headache.

In children

Symptoms of heatstroke in children are not much different from the signs of overheating of an adult body, but a fragile body reacts much more heavily to such a condition. The mechanisms of thermoregulation in a child are not yet fully formed, therefore they cannot quickly cope with an increase in body temperature, especially in hot weather. Often, babies react to overheating with a change in mood - they become whiny, irritated or apathetic, refuse their favorite foods. The child may have nosebleeds that need to be treated symptomatically.

Development mechanism

Direct rays of the sun with prolonged exposure can provoke an increase in the release of active substances by the body, which can provoke a critical expansion of the cerebral vessels. As a result of excessive heating, the body is unable to cope with an increase in temperature using thermoregulation, blood stagnates in the brain, free radicals accumulate in tissues. If the causes of overheating are not removed in time, violations can cause serious illnesses, disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system and can even lead to death.

First aid

If there is the slightest suspicion of overheating in oneself or another person, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance, and before the arrival of doctors, make every effort to cool the body. It is strictly forbidden to independently deal with the treatment of the victim, injecting or prescribing drugs for him - this can be very harmful. The main first aid for heat and sunstroke is moving a person into a shade or a well-ventilated room (preferably in a supine position).

With a long wait for medical assistance and subsequent treatment, it is necessary to provide a person with overheating with a set of special measures to reduce the critical body temperature:

soldering off the victim with cool water;
release from tight elements of clothing that interfere with breathing calmly;
rubbing the victim with water;
moving a person to a cool bath;
covering the body with ice.

Impact consequences

Avoiding solar overheating in the sun is much easier than treating the effects. If you respond to the symptoms in a timely manner and provide first aid with high quality, the ailment will recede in 2-3 days. When superimposed on hyperinsolation signs of dehydration, it is possible for blood to thicken and accumulate blood clots, which increases the load on the heart, and this can cause a fatal attack. No less dangerous is the defeat of the respiratory center of the brain or acute renal failure.

Prophylaxis

Sunstroke - the symptoms and treatment of this ailment are known to many, but it is much better to learn how to avoid overheating in time. It is recommended to limit sunbathing in time, you should not go out in the sun from 10.00 to 16.30-17.00. This is the most dangerous time, because infrared radiation is very intense. It is possible to reduce the risk of getting hyperinsolation by wearing light hats (panama, cap) of a light, better white color. Overheating treatment is much more difficult than timely prevention.

To avoid thermal overheating, you need to follow a few rules:

limiting the period of stay in the heat (adults 1-2 hours in a row, children up to 60 minutes);
drinking plenty of fluids;
decreased physical activity (especially in high humidity and ambient temperatures).

Seizures in the corners of the lips of a child causes and treatment komarovsky

Overheating in a child, symptoms and treatment how long the temperature lasts

If the baby has become lethargic, whiny and capricious, complains of fatigue or headache, it may be overheated!

Why are children at risk of overheating?

Normally, the body of both a child and an adult successfully cools itself - heat transfer and heat production are in balance. Why does it fail? Our body cools itself by dilating the blood vessels in the skin (when it's hot, we blush) and sweating. The smaller the child is, the easier it is to overheat. Moreover, the consequences can be very serious, up to brain damage. Therefore, remember: it is more dangerous to entangle a baby in the summer than to overcool it. Cool legs and nose will lead to a cold at the most.

Is the kid playing on the beach or running in the summer cottage in the open sun? Does he not like to wear a hat and constantly takes off his panama? Such sunbathing is unacceptable. Allow to play in the sun only until 10 am and after 5-6 pm, when the radiation activity is reduced. And the risk here is not only that the baby will receive sunburn, although there is little pleasant in them.

It is much easier for children to get general overheating of the body than for adults, since their thermoregulation processes are not yet perfect. Newborns and infants under one year old are most susceptible to heatstroke. Parents should be able to recognize the signs of incipient heatstroke in a child and take urgent action.

Causes of overheating in a child

Heatstroke is a consequence of general overheating due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Please note that the risk of heatstroke increases if heat dissipation decreases. For example, the risk of overheating a baby on the road in a traffic jam is much higher than on the street. And the same child, under the same weather conditions, will feel normal in a cotton T-shirt and panties, in a well-ventilated place, but will have every chance of earning heatstroke in a stuffy confined space, in a diaper and synthetic sweaters, dressed “so as not to blew ".

Be especially attentive to the baby - doctors warn - where an adult is quite comfortable, a baby under 3 years old can get serious overheating of the body.

The first signs of heatstroke

The child becomes excited, begins to be capricious, his face turns red, but the sweat is cold. He may start complaining of tummy pain (caused by cramping). At this moment, it is very easy to mistake these complaints for poisoning, teething fatigue, the onset of ARVI ...

Be sure to immediately take measures to help with overheating. Since if you miss the onset of the disease, the child's well-being will deteriorate. At the second stage, weakness is added to the listed symptoms, the baby becomes drowsy, complains of a headache, he may feel dizzy, and darken his eyes. If you feel his skin, it will be moist at first, but as the condition worsens, perspiration, which does not cope with its cooling function, decreases. Your baby's skin becomes hot and dry, and the lips may turn bluish.

The child's temperature rises, shortness of breath occurs. Heartbeat increases. Due to a lack of fluid, your baby may stop urinating. Another symptom that characterizes precisely children's heatstroke is vomiting and nausea. Also, the baby may have nosebleeds.

What should parents do in case of overheating in a child?

At the first symptoms of overheating:

Take the baby out of the sun, place him in the shade, in a cool, ventilated place, preferably in a room with a temperature of about 20 ° C.
If there is no air conditioning in the house, open the windows and try to organize the air movement.
Give me a drink, wash and rinse your head with cool water.

Summer, sun, river. It's so good to lie on the grass, leaf through a book, relax. Who hasn't dreamed about it all long winter? Or maybe you went to a resort during school holidays - then both you and your baby need a fair amount of vitamin D and warm sun.

But finally we packed our things, took the children and went into nature. And, as often happens, they forgot that everything is good in moderation. And the organism baby meanwhile, he reacts to our oversight quickly: we did not have time to notice how the baby was burned or had the first symptoms of heatstroke. What should mom do in this case, how to provide first aid for a child?

What is heatstroke?

First, let's figure out what it is heatstroke... And we will try to understand the seriousness of the situation for the body of a small baby – heatstroke at any age causes serious harm as in 2, so at 3 and 4 years.

And the most important thing is that with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, the heat exchange of the whole body is disrupted, but it is difficult to adjust it back to correct operation. Simply put, heat transfer stops working, and the heating of the body itself is maximum.

The components include solar radiation and heat. The following happens to the body: vascular tone and the process of thermoregulation are disturbed. Blood rushes to the skin, it can be there up to 2 liters (and in total in a person - 5 liters). Sometimes in this state, children faint.

IMPORTANT! In case of fainting, lay the baby horizontally, lift your legs up, and apply something cold to your forehead. If there is no improvement in the condition, see a doctor immediately.

The main signs of heatstroke in a child

In medicine, it is customary to divide sunstroke into three degrees of severity. In its simplest form, the body produces fever, profuse sweating, rapid heart rate, headache, and nausea. But how to understand that the crumbs, who also of the year No - heatstroke? After all, if he just rose temperature- this does not mean at all that it is overheated. He may have a rotavirus intestinal infection.

IMPORTANT! Heatstroke can happen at any time of the year - in case a small child is wrapped too tightly, and he is in a hot room. Its usual heat exchange will be disrupted, which will lead to thermal shock.

Heatstroke in an infant

Let's find out what are the main signs of overheating for infant... He himself cannot say anything yet.

If a little child has been in the sun for a long time, he begins to wither, sour, his head falls, he is capricious. That's what it is first signs of heatstroke and first aid for children will:

Get out of the sun into the shade;
Get the baby out of the stroller (there may be 50 degrees);
Remove all clothing from him, including the diaper;
Give water to drink. It is possible with compote, but better with water;
You can sprinkle or douse the baby with water. This is required to cool the body as a whole.

IMPORTANT! There is one rule: the smaller the child, the softer you need to be with him.

Heatstroke in a 4-year-old child

At this age, it is imperative to listen to the baby, although he is still small, he can consciously say that he is hot or cold. Or that he is very thirsty. Be sure to listen to him and do not dismiss him even if you think that everything is fine with him, and he is just being capricious.

IMPORTANT! A baby's capriciousness can be the first sign of heatstroke!

Until your child is five years old, go everywhere with a bottle of water in hot weather. And it is even better not to go out into the sun with a child at all, but to be in the shade, under a tree. There is grass, and sunbeams, and a small breeze. It is not necessary to get into direct sunlight when resting, vitamin D is perfectly activated in the shade.

What to do if a child has heatstroke and a fever

If, nevertheless, you are in the sun and from overheating the temperature has risen, give your baby antipyretic drugs: aspirin, paracetamol, nurofen.

IMPORTANT! The main problem with heatstroke is that it can be confused with the onset of a cold or ordinary fatigue.

He may experience lethargy, drowsiness, vomiting. In this case, limit walks, as in winter, until the baby's body is fully restored.

At home treatment for heatstroke watch the child for an hour and if the situation worsens immediately call an ambulance. At the same time, unsolder and wipe it with water before the ambulance arrives.

IMPORTANT! Overheating, especially in the south, greatly reduces the child's immunity - he can easily get sick.

Go to the beach

Go with child 2 or 3 years old to the beach to lie on the sand? What to do so that it does not burn out and does not receive heatstroke? Choose a beach where you can shelter from the sun. And if there is none, then the best thing is: came, plunged and left. Sit in the shade and undress your child immediately before he overheats. . Be sure to take water and compote with you. If the baby already 3 years- you can offer him ice cream, just be extremely careful with him. Allow to eat it in small portions or lick it.

What to do if a child is sunburned

But, suppose the child nevertheless burned out, and even received heatstroke... Less traumatize the skin with all sorts of colognes, it is already dry. Better to lubricate it periodically with something lactic: sour cream, kefir. Smear at least every hour until the baby feels better. Dairy products not only nourish the skin, but also contain vitamin A. And be sure to sit with your baby at home for a couple of days. Not in the shade on the beach, but at home. Relatively heatstroke in a child- carry out the same actions as usual: wiping with water, if necessary, give antipyretic and plentiful drink.

If the child is very small, give him a soothing bath of And make sure everything is clean, as a variety of infections can easily penetrate through damaged skin. Just do not try to make the bath hot, understand that the baby's skin is already burning, even a slightly cool bath will suit him.

What to do to keep children from overheating

When leaving the house, put on a hat for your child;
Have a container of water with you, even if you went to the store for half an hour;
Dress your child for the weather;
Always monitor how long your baby is in the sun;
In the shade, the child should be undressed immediately.

Daria, daughter Ekaterina (9 years old), sons Cyril (5 years old) and Alexey (2 years old)

Taking into account the three children and their endless wishes and whims, it is difficult to understand when a child is really thirsty and tired, and when he just wants to get hold of his mother. We once had a sunburn at Kirill when he was 8 months old. We all rested in the shade, but Kirill was burned. Yes, so much ... Panthenol cream helped then very well. We, while dad ran to our pharmacy, smeared it with kefir, but the effect is incomparable.

Alina, daughter Nadezhda (4 years old)

My daughter and I are very sensitive to the rise in air temperature, so I always try not to leave the house in extreme heat or leave for the summer cottage. When we have to go to the city we take a lot of water and already enjoy ice cream. We are saved in the city by a split-system and my opportunity not to take my child to kindergarten in the summer. Otherwise, I think we would be constantly overheating.

Useful video

Doctor Komarovsky in this program will talk about heatstroke:

Outcomes

Photo and video: free Internet sources