Heatstroke in a 7-year-old child. In children from one year. Deterioration in general well-being

At human body There is a wonderful and very useful ability called thermoregulation. It's about adjusting to temperature changes. environment.

However, this ability is not unlimited, and under certain conditions the body receives either hypothermia or overheating. The second situation is recognized by doctors as more dangerous, especially in children.

Our body produces heat all the time. This happens more when we are awake and less so when we sleep. Body temperature regulation is a rather complex process, involving the brain, nervous and circulatory system, sweat glands, hormones.

As soon as it gets hot around - due to the direct light of the sun, elevated temperature air, excess clothing - the body receives a signal to reduce the production of its own heat and increase heat transfer. The internal organs and systems of an adult normally cope, but in children the mechanisms of thermoregulation are imperfect.

The most dangerous situations are when something interferes with the natural processes of heat transfer. Here, an extremely undesirable condition can develop - heat stroke. Its consequences depend on the severity, the assistance measures taken, and age.

Are heat stroke and sunstroke different? The second concept is narrower in meaning. It means heat stroke, which happened precisely because of the sun.

Now it's time to understand the causes of children's overheating.

Provoking factors

A situation known to many: a hot summer day, a mother in a sundress, a father in shorts and a T-shirt, are rolling a stroller with a baby down the street. The baby is wearing rompers (overalls, a suit), socks, a blouse, a hat. Everything is quite tight, with long legs and sleeves. Plus boots or booties. It is possible that only the head of the child is in the shade, and the rest of the body is mercilessly warmed by the sun. But even if it is cloudy, the danger of overheating is not only obvious - it is almost inevitable.

Another option: at home it is warm and a sleeping child (perhaps already wrapped in a pair of diapers or dressed in pajamas), so that he does not catch a cold, relatives cover with a thick and dense blanket up to the chin.

What should be the optimal temperature in the room for a newborn, read in.

And if it's cold outside, even frosty? And here the danger of overheating is very high. Modern outerwear for children is quite thin, for many adults it seems “cold”. And then under the winter suit is a couple more layers of clothing. If such a wrapped child actively moves on the street or travels in transport, then heat transfer disturbances cannot be avoided.

Finally, the most obvious factor: the scorching sun. Imagine: on a hot, cloudless day, a child is dressed for the weather to go out, but goes out with his head uncovered. Or wearing a very tight hat. These are the conditions in which even an adult can experience sunstroke.

Symptoms

How can you tell if your child has a heat stroke? In babies who cannot speak, the following signs indicate this dangerous condition:

pallor, lethargy, decreased reactions;
rapid breathing, a noticeably higher than usual pulse;
the skin may become hot, dry, while sweat is not released;
body temperature rises;
appears (may be different in frequency).

It is a little easier to identify heat stroke in a child who already knows how to complain clearly. In this case, dizziness and nausea testify to the consequences of overheating. Another characteristic symptom is pain in the head, without localization in any one place.

Symptoms of heat stroke in children should be known to all adult family members. How younger child, the more threatening are the consequences of significant overheating for it. If this dangerous condition is recognized in time, then you can get by with home remedies and prevent complications.

What to do?

Relief measures to some extent depend on the situation in which signs of heat stroke were detected. Let's consider the main cases.

Outdoors, summer

What to do with sunstroke in a child? First you need to go into the shadows. It is necessary to loosen fasteners, belts, remove (or at least unfasten) clothes that can provoke further overheating. Too tight a hat or cap should also be removed, at least for a while.

Drinking water (not cold) helps to improve thermoregulation. No juices, fruit drinks and sodas! With nausea, drink should be given literally in a sip, so as not to provoke vomiting.

It is strictly forbidden to hide from the heat in the cold entrance of the house, go to shops / shopping centers and stand directly under the air conditioner. Too rapid cooling often provokes vasospasm, not to mention.

Outdoors in the cold season

You need to start by reducing activity - ask the child to stop jumping and running. It is advisable to find a room where you can remove an extra layer of clothing, let it cool. If adverse symptoms are detected in public transport, the trip will most likely have to be stopped. In the air, well-being can quickly return to normal. As in the previous situation, it will be necessary drinking water.

In the first two cases, after the first measures have been taken, it is advisable to return home as soon as possible.

Houses

Complete rest, coolness (but not drafts) and periodic wiping the body with water at room temperature or warmer. You can put a napkin dipped in cool water on your forehead. Plus all the same drinking water. If it came to vomiting, you need to give Regidron in accordance with the instructions. The baby can be breastfed more often than usual.

If the child is overheated, treatment at home should begin as soon as possible.

Overheating was detected in time, and necessary measures accepted quickly? Then there is usually no question of how to treat a child from the effects of heat stroke. Within one to an hour and a half, rapid breathing and pulse should decrease, lost activity is restored, and normal body temperature returns.

Emergency care for sunstroke, with an ambulance call, is needed in the following cases:

within an hour and a half, the child's well-being does not improve;
vomiting appeared;
temperature, pulse and respiratory rate do not decrease.

These symptoms show that either the overheating was too severe, or the child suffers from some other disease.

How to prevent?

To do this, just follow a few tips:

Regularly arrange air baths for your child - of course, not allowing to freeze.
Learn to dress your daughter or son according to the weather. If you have one layer of clothes on, four layers on a child is a clear bust.
Try to dress children so that it is possible to remove excess when overheated.
The closer the clothes are to the body, the greater the percentage of natural ingredients should be in it. First of all, this applies to underwear, hats and summer wardrobe.
Always, even in winter cold, carry non-carbonated drinking water with you.

With the attentive attitude of adults, a child can grow up without knowing what sunstroke and heatstroke are.

Everyone knows about the danger of sunstroke and that leaving a child under the scorching sun is very dangerous. But this type of temperature exposure is just a kind of heatstroke, which is more insidious and even more dangerous for the baby. And if it is not so difficult to hide from direct sunlight exposure, then it will be much more difficult to protect the baby from hot air.

Short help and signs

Heatstroke is a consequence of exposure to a high ambient temperature. If, under solar exposure, only the head is negatively affected, then overheating affects the body as a whole, which causes its great danger and the presence of possible manifestations from all organs.

Doctor's note: the child's body is more vulnerable, and heat stroke can happen to the baby even if the temperature in the room or on the street seems quite tolerable for an adult.

The first signs of heat stroke are moodiness, redness of the face, the appearance of cold sweat on the skin and constant desire drink. Also, the symptoms of such a phenomenon in a child include:

weakness, drowsiness;
cramps in the tummy;
headache and dizziness;
darkening, flashing dots or goosebumps before the eyes;
with the aggravation of the situation, temperature, shortness of breath, convulsions, symptoms of dehydration appear;
nosebleeds and vomiting (most difficult situations).

Fighting heat stroke

In no case should such a condition be ignored, since the progression of symptoms can turn into life-threatening conditions. The main rule is that when the first symptoms appear and suspicions of heat stroke, you must immediately call an ambulance.

First aid

While you are waiting for the doctors to arrive, you cannot be inactive, the child must be given first aid correctly. You need to act according to the following algorithm:

the thermal effect must be urgently stopped, that is, move the baby to a cooler place;
so that the child does not start to choke when vomiting occurs, which probably needs to be laid on its side, with the head in the same position;
it is necessary to release the victim from clothes;
the chest and head can be wiped with a wet cold towel, or at least often blown on the child, forcing cool air to circulate;
if the child is conscious, then he needs to offer water. You need to drink it in small sips.

Measures to lower body temperature

Blowing, fanning and rubbing with a wet towel - all these measures are designed to cool the body and at the same time prevent an increase in temperature. If a high temperature still appears (this happens with severe strokes, when the symptoms develop very rapidly), then measures must be taken to reduce it.

Wiping with water should be made more abundant, paying special attention to those places where the vessels are located closest to the skin (holes under the knee, armpits, groin area etc.). Please note - the water should not be too cold, as this can provoke spasms and worsen the child's condition. The recommended temperature of the rubdown liquid is room temperature.

If necessary, you can bathe the child in water at a temperature of 25 degrees, but after the procedure you can not go outside or be near open windows.

As for antipyretic drugs, they are not effective for heat stroke. In general, you should avoid using any medications without a doctor's prescription, as this can aggravate the situation.

If during solar exposure only the head is negatively affected, then overheating affects the whole body.

Treatment

Breast and early age with heat stroke is a direct indication for hospitalization, and for immediate. For older children, the issue of placement in the hospital is decided on a case-by-case basis. If the thermal effect has passed in a mild form, then home treatment is possible.

In the fight against the manifestations of the problem, the following means can be prescribed:

belladonna to combat a range of symptoms of heat stroke, including headaches;
the appearance of seizures requires the appointment of cuprum metallicum;
vomiting, nausea and indigestion are indications for the appointment of natrum carbonicum.

These and other medicines must be prescribed by a doctor and taken in the recommended amounts.

What not to do

It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the list of actions that are often used out of ignorance, but do not help fight the problem, but only exacerbate it:

you need to cool the body gradually, no need to try to manipulate quickly;
cold water must not be used;
you can’t leave the child until the doctor arrives in the same place where the negative temperature effect was made, moving to a cooler place is simply necessary;
and most importantly - you can’t try to cure a child on your own, it can end badly.

Nutrition Features

One of the most important elements of treatment is the correct drinking regimen. Drinking should be plentiful, not cold, and should be consumed in small sips.

IN early age very often used diet therapy. At breastfeeding on the day of the incident, one feeding is recommended to be skipped, and the total daily amount of food should be reduced by a third for some time. Gradually, the volumes return to normal. The diet of a child who has already been weaned must necessarily include fermented milk products.

Plentiful drinking is necessary, but the water should not be cold

Prevention

Prevention of heat stroke is simple, the main rule is to avoid rooms or places with hot air. Inside the child's home, the temperature should not exceed 23 degrees, while the room must be properly organized for an uninterrupted and safe supply of fresh air. Make sure your baby is drinking enough fluids and don't overfeed on hot days. As for the rules of walking on the street:

hats to protect against direct exposure to sunlight must be taken with you and put on the baby on the street;
it is better not to be in the open sun, but to play in the shade of trees;
clothing should be made of fabrics that allow air to penetrate to the skin, preferably in light colors;
prolonged exposure to heat and physical activity in such weather should be limited.

Video: heat stroke - Dr. Komarovsky's school

By following simple recommendations, you can protect your child from dangerous heat stroke. If the trouble did occur, then a timely adequate response will help to cope with the problem on early stage without any complications.

The holiday season is ahead. We all missed the sun and warmth during the winter. But the sun and heat are not as harmless as it seems at first glance. Even in our latitudes, no one is immune from solar and heat stroke. Especially when it comes to children.

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

We will 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. Heat stroke in children 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 beginning 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 measures to prevent it.

What is heat stroke and sunstroke?

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

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

Sunstroke is a separate form of heat stroke. This condition is characterized by a violation of the state of health due to exposure to direct sunlight directly on the head of the child.

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

In infants, the diagnosis of overheating is complicated by the fact that children cannot complain, tell what worries them. Yes, and the symptoms of overheating of the child are nonspecific. Lethargy, moody behavior, tearfulness can be for various reasons. These symptoms are not always immediately associated with overheating. Therefore, it is very important to protect babies from the sun and heat, and indeed from any overheating.

Causes of overheating

Although sunstroke is considered a special form of heatstroke, they are not identical. At least because they have different reasons occurrence.

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

The cause of heat stroke is the general overheating of the whole body 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, evaporating from the surface of the skin, cools the human body.

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

During hot weather, little heat is spent on warming the inhaled air. And two other mechanisms of thermoregulation work. Unless, of course, we interfere with them ...

What to do not to interfere? Everything is simple! Firstly, parents should pay special attention so that the child has something to sweat, and his clothes allow 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. At high humidity, sweat flows in a stream, but does not evaporate. Simple laws of physics work. Therefore, skin cooling does not occur.

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

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

So, the following factors make it difficult to transfer heat and cool 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 sweat does not evaporate and is not absorbed);
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 chubby children prevents the release of heat.
fair-skinned, fair-haired children tolerate heat worse;
taking antiallergic (antihistamine) drugs slows down heat transfer;
a violation of the heat transfer process may 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 toddlers who are in a closed car in the heat or during a traffic jam when the car is practically stationary. When the outside temperature is around 32-33°C, the temperature inside the vehicle may rise to 50°C within 15-20 minutes.

Now let's talk about sunstroke. It is a consequence of the direct rays of the sun on the head of a person. That is, the cause of a sunstroke can be expressed in a simple speech turnover: "Head is hot."

The timing of the symptoms of sunstroke varies. It happens that something is wrong 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 heat stroke

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

With a mild degree, headache, dizziness, nausea, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, dilated pupils appear. The skin is moist.

Even with mild form heat stroke, you need to see a doctor. If the child was treated on time, hospitalization is usually not needed.

For medium degree The severity of heat stroke is characterized by an increasing headache, combined with nausea and vomiting. The skin is red. Characterized by an increase in temperature up to 40 ° C. Heartbeat and frequency respiratory movements become more frequent.

The child has pronounced adynamia (unwillingness to move). There is a confused consciousness, a state of stupor, the movements of the baby are uncertain. There may be a fainting state or a short-term loss of consciousness.

A severe form is evidenced by loss of consciousness, a state similar to a coma, the appearance of convulsions. Psychomotor agitation, hallucinations, 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 shallow, intermittent. Short-term respiratory arrest is possible. Heart sounds are muffled.

The main symptoms of sunstroke

Pronounced weakness, lethargy, headache, accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

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

The skin is red, especially on the face, head. The pulse is frequent weak filling, breathing is speeded up. Observed increased sweating. Often there is nose bleed.

Symptoms of severe damage are similar to those of heat stroke (loss of consciousness, disorientation, rapid, then slow breathing, convulsive muscle contractions).

Doctors single out another concept in violation of heat exchange - heat exhaustion. This condition may precede the development of a more serious pathological condition - heat stroke. Thus, we can say that heat exhaustion is a heat stroke.

With 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 heat stroke in a comparison table:

Complexion	Pale	Red with bright blush
Leather	Wet, sticky	Dry, hot to the touch
Thirst	Pronounced	may already be missing
sweating	Reinforced	Reduced
Consciousness	Possible fainting	Confused, possible loss of consciousness, disorientation
Headache	characteristic	characteristic
Body temperature	Normal or slightly elevated	High, sometimes 40°C or more
Breath	Normal	Accelerated, superficial
heartbeat	Rapid, weak pulse	Rapid, pulse barely visible
convulsions	Seldom	Present

First aid for overheating

Move the child to a shady or cool ventilated place. Try to keep the area around the victim open. It is necessary to exclude a mass congestion of people (onlookers). call ambulance.
Lay the child in a horizontal position.
If consciousness is disturbed, the legs should be in an elevated position. Place a piece of clothing or a towel under your ankles. This will increase blood flow to the brain.
If nausea or vomiting has already begun, turn your head to the side so that the child does not choke on vomit.
Remove outer clothing from the baby. Loosen your neck and chest. It is best to remove tight or synthetic clothing altogether.
The child must be thoroughly fed with water. Give water in small portions, but often. The water should not be very cold, as this can cause stomach cramps and vomiting. It is better to drink with mineral water or special saline solutions (Rehydron, Normohydron). The baby loses salt with sweat. Due to their rapid mass loss, the concentration of electrolytes in the body decreases. This can result in seizures. Salt solutions quickly restore water and electrolyte composition
Wet any cloth with cool water and apply it to the forehead, neck, or back of the head. Wipe the baby's body with a wet cloth. You can gradually douse the body more and more with water at a temperature of about 20 ° C. It is impossible to abruptly bring a heated baby into the water (sea, pond).
Then apply a cold compress (bag or bottle of cold water). A very small child can be wrapped in a wet diaper or sheet.
Provide fresh air. Fan it with fan-shaped movements.
If the baby’s consciousness is clouded, carefully let him sniff a cotton ball moistened with 10% ammonia (available in any car first aid kit).
IN 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 slightly tilt the child's head so that the chin goes forward. One hand should be placed on the chin, and the other should cover the child's nose. Take a breath. Release the air for 1-1.5 seconds into the child's mouth, tightly clasping the baby's lips. Make sure the baby's chest rises. So you will understand that the air went exactly 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.

Top 10 Rules for Preventing Heat Disorders

Parents should always remember about preventive measures for such conditions. Children are a risk group. They may experience heat or sunstroke even with short exposure to the sun or in a stuffy, hot environment.

Prevention of thermal disorders in children is best dealt with in advance.

When walking in sunny weather, dress your child in light-colored clothes made from natural fabrics. White color 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 or hat with a brim. For an older child, protect your eyes with tinted goggles.
Avoid resting during the sunniest hours. These are hours from 12 to 16 hours, and in the southern regions - even from 10 am to 5 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 (trampoline jumping, air slides, excursions).
Alternate sunbathing (up to 20 minutes) with swimming. 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 nap on the beach.
Children are strictly forbidden to sunbathe, so do not insist that the child lie on the beach with you (sunbathe). Do not be indignant that he cannot lie or sit still for more than three seconds))
Children need to drink a lot! Under normal conditions, the child should drink 1-1.5 liters of fluid. 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 to prevent heat illness. Even breastfed babies need extra water. It will be more convenient for mommy 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 the face, hands of the child with a wet diaper. Wash your baby often. So you will help him cool down and wash off the annoying sweat, from which the children immediately develop prickly heat.
Proper nutrition in the heat is also worth paying attention to. In hot weather, do not eat heavily. Children, as a rule, do not want to eat during the hours of the sun. Give your child the opportunity to snack on juicy fruits and vegetables, light milk products. Transfer a full meal to the evening. Do not rush in hot weather 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. Seek medical attention.

These simple rules will help you and your children enjoy sunny weather without fear for health. May the sun bless you!

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 significant threat to the health of young children. After all, from a long stay in the heat, babies often get heatstroke. This is what our article will be about.

Heatstroke is the body's response to overheating.

signs Description External Skin redness There is not only a blush on the cheeks, the hands, neck, back and tummy turn red, less often the redness reaches the legs. General weakness The child does not want to engage in active activities, tries to sit or even lie down all the time, sluggishly answers questions. Dyspnea It manifests itself with a moderate and severe degree of heat stroke, any movement causes difficulty in breathing, the baby begins to breathe through his mouth, often grabbing air. Vomit Also characteristic of moderate ailment, it becomes difficult for the stomach to digest the food that has fallen. Dry skin A 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, however, even if it seemed to you that the baby’s skin became hotter than usual in warm weather, an occasion to immediately return home and measure the temperature with a thermometer. Signs that a child may complain about Dizziness It can be difficult to notice right away, the child himself can say that his head is spinning. Nausea Without vomiting, but the baby feels discomfort. Darkening in the eyes The child can say that midges fly before his eyes, complain that it suddenly becomes dark in his eyes. Muscle spasms Reduces the limbs, there are weak twitching in the muscles.

Insofar as main reason Heat stroke is a high temperature, then 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 be aware that prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to heat stroke. It is very important to know how to prevent heat stroke and what to do if this trouble does happen to the child.

Many parents underestimate the dangers of heat stroke, but in vain - the duration of the child's exposure to the open sun in the summer season must be strictly controlled.

What is heat stroke?

Heat stroke is a pathological condition of a person that occurs under the influence of high temperatures, in which the process of thermoregulation is disturbed. 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 heat stroke:

outdoors in the summer heat;
in a room with high air temperature;
in clothes that are too warm for the season.

Causes of heat stroke

The main reason is a strong overheating of the body. With a long stay in a hot room or on the street in the summer heat, a malfunction occurs in the part of the brain responsible for thermoregulation. The heat generated by a person accumulates 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 given off by inhaling cold air and expanding capillaries close to the surface of the skin. In summer, the air temperature is high, which means that body heat is not released to warm it. Other types of thermoregulation do their job well, if you do not create obstacles for them.

In order to protect the child from overheating, care must be taken to ensure that he has something to quench his thirst, and clothes do not prevent sweat from evaporating. Fluid from the surface of the body evaporates only if the ambient air is drier than the air under clothing. With high humidity, sweat does not evaporate, but flows down in a stream, while the surface of the skin is not cooled. Clothing should not be too close to the body, so as not to interfere with the removal of heat.

The main factors preventing heat transfer are:

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

Symptoms in children at different ages

Signs of hyperthermia in children are more pronounced than in adults, and the clinical condition can deteriorate very quickly.

When overheated, dehydration and intoxication of the body occur, which lead to serious complications and pose a threat to the health and life of the child. When characteristic features you need to see a doctor.

Symptoms of heat stroke in infants vary. In order to help the child in time 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 lasts in children.

Signs in the chest

Babies under one year old are often supercooled and easily overheated, so it is not necessary to wrap them up in a well-heated room. Heat stroke can be identified by the following signs:

baby 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 heat stroke, 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 heat stroke is not recognized in time in an infant, he may experience severe dehydration, loss of consciousness.

Symptoms in children older than one year

Too warm clothes provoke overheating in children older than a year. This is also facilitated by the increased activity of babies, in which their body temperature rises, and clothes do not allow heat to come out. In unventilated warm rooms, the likelihood of overheating increases.

In children older than 1-2 years, it is much easier to recognize heat stroke, as 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;
strong feeling of thirst;
increase in body temperature;
skin redness;
dry lips;
sudden bouts of vomiting;
nausea;
general weakness.

With mild heatstroke, the baby feels weak and constant feeling thirst, possible nausea and vomitingFirst aid for symptoms

At the first symptoms of heat stroke in a child, doctors should be called. Before their arrival, parents must do the following:

Move the child to a well-ventilated, cool area.
Lay the baby on a horizontal surface.
If the child is in fainting, you need to raise his legs, after putting a towel or something from his clothes under them. This position improves blood flow to the head.
With severe vomiting, you need to turn the baby's head to the side to ensure the flow of air to the lungs.
If clothing is made of synthetic materials or restricts movement, it must be completely removed.
To avoid dehydration, the child must be given water to drink. It should be given often in small sips. Recovery salt balance it is better to give mineral water or saline solutions, such as Regidron, Trihydron, Reosalan - this will help prevent convulsions.
Any cloth moistened with water should be applied to the back of the head and neck. She can also wipe the child's body or gradually pour water at room temperature. It is impossible to bring a heated baby into a cold body of water.

For heat stroke, apply a cold compress to the child's forehead.

Something cold should be applied to the forehead, such as a bottle or a bag. The newborn can be completely wrapped in a wet towel or sheet.
For proper breathing, it is necessary to ensure the flow of air with a fan or newspaper.
When fainting, the baby can be given a sniff of a cotton swab moistened with a solution of ammonia, which can be found in any car first-aid kit.
At sudden stop 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, with one hand they cover the baby’s nose, and with the other they hold the chin. After deep breath release air into the mouth for a few seconds. When air enters the lungs, the chest should rise.

Heat stroke treatment

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

How to help the baby?

The first task of parents with heat stroke in infants is to lower body temperature. To do this, it must be completely undressed or swaddled.

Then they move on to other cooling methods:

wipe the baby's body with water, the temperature of which should not be lower than 20 ° C, too cold water can provoke a deterioration in the condition;
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 the air conditioner or fan work 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 supply of fluid to the body. Every 30 minutes, the baby needs to drink at least 50 ml of water or breast milk. With hyperthermia, accompanied by vomiting, the dose of liquid is increased.

If heat stroke is accompanied by cardiac arrest, the baby is given artificial respiration, alternating it with a heart massage. Each breath should be followed by 5 compressions on the lower part of the sternum.

Treatment of babies 2-3 years old

With hyperthermia in a child 2-3 years old, 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 heat stroke depends on its severity, sometimes doctors insist on hospitalization of the child

Scheme drug therapy for children under 4 years of age 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 children's body;
reception 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 heat stroke when they stay in the sun for a long time or in a very warm room. In a hospital setting, therapy is performed using the following medications:

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

Consequences of hyperthermia

With hyperthermia, help should be provided immediately. If in the first hours after the discovery of the pathology, no healing procedures, the child will have severe complications:

Thickening of the blood. Occurs due to lack of fluid, leads to heart failure, thrombosis, heart attack.
Severe form kidney failure. In most cases, it appears under the influence of metabolic products formed in the body at high temperatures.
Respiratory failure. Associated with changes in the part 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, hearing, speech and vision disorders.
Shock is one of the most dangerous conditions that occurs due to dehydration. With an imbalance of electrolytes in the body, the blood supply to most internal organs is disrupted.

In the hot season, after being exposed to the sun for a long time, many people suffer from high temperature, general weakness, headache and vomiting. Experts consider the appearance of these signs to be a consequence of a 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 period of cold weather there is a risk of deterioration in health status, the cause of this may be heat stroke (obtained as a result of overheating in warm clothes or a stuffy room).

What is sunstroke

Parents often tell their children about the need to wear panama hats in the heat, and their concern is not unfounded. Solar overheating (a kind of thermal) is the result of prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Under the influence of a high concentration of infrared radiation in the human brain, blood stasis develops, which can provoke serious problems with health. When overheated in the body, the process of heat generation is accelerated, but heat transfer slows down. The well-coordinated work of the body is disturbed, 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 an ambient temperature of more than 25 degrees. Scientists have proven that the elderly and young children (under 2 years old) are more prone to overheating than others. The risk group also included patients with brain diseases, of cardio-vascular system and people under the influence of alcohol.

The signs of heat and sunstroke are similar in children and adults, but if the disease recedes earlier and more easily during heat overheating, 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 even prevent them. 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 pain. The choice of treatment regimen depends on the presence and severity of the symptoms of the disease.

The course of overheating is often very rapid and in many ways resembles the symptoms acute violation cerebral circulation Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor and get help at the first signs of the disease:

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

In children

The symptoms of heat stroke in children are not much different from the signs of overheating in an adult body, but a weak body reacts much harder 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 fall into apathy, refuse their favorite foods. The child may develop nosebleeds, which must be treated symptomatically.

Development mechanism

The direct rays of the sun with prolonged exposure can provoke an increase in the body's excretion of active substances, which can provoke a critical expansion of cerebral vessels. As a result of excessive heating, the body is unable to cope with an increase in temperature with the help of thermoregulation, blood stagnates in the brain, and free radicals accumulate in tissues. If the causes of overheating are not removed in time, violations can cause serious illness, disruption 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 urgent to call an ambulance, and before the arrival of doctors, make every effort to cool the body. It is strictly forbidden to independently treat the victim, give injections or prescribe drugs to him - this can greatly harm. The main first aid for heat and sunstroke is to move the person to a shade or well-ventilated area (preferably in a supine position).

Long wait medical care 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 the victim with cool water;
release from tight, interfering with easy breathing elements of clothing;
wiping the victim with water;
moving a person into a cool bath;
covering the body with ice.

Consequences of the impact

Avoiding solar overheating in the sun is much easier than treating the consequences. If you respond to the symptoms in a timely manner and provide first aid with high quality, the disease will recede in 2-3 days. When signs of dehydration are superimposed on hyperinsolation, blood clotting and accumulation of blood clots are possible, 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.

Prevention

Sunstroke - the symptoms and treatment of this disease are known to many, but it is much better to learn how to avoid overheating in time. Sunbathing is recommended to be limited 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. You can reduce the risk of getting hyperinsolation by wearing light hats (Panama, cap) of a light, preferably white color. Treatment of overheating 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);
plentiful drink;
decreased physical activity (especially at high humidity and ambient temperature).

Jamming in the corners of the lips in a child causes and treatment Komarovsky

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

A painful condition that has arisen as a result of exposure to high temperatures is called heat stroke. In fact, this is overheating, in which the body cannot independently provide itself with thermoregulation, which leads to serious violations.

This condition is especially dangerous for young children, because. due to their age, the processes of thermoregulation are imperfect and therefore the disease progresses rapidly. Overheating is no less dangerous for people with pathologies of the cardiovascular system - they can develop dangerous conditions, even death.

Why heat stroke occurs

Overheating of the body occurs with a significant loss of salts and fluids with increased sweating. Fluid stores are depleted, as a result of which sweating stops or becomes scarce, and the cooling processes in the body are disturbed.

Important! The main cause of heat stroke is a violation of sweating and difficulty in its evaporation.

Heatstroke and sunstroke have different causes: sunstroke is caused by exposure to direct sunlight, and heatstroke can be caused even in the shade and indoors, because. this overheating causes an indirect effect of high temperatures.

Heatstroke in a child can occur due to the following factors:

Being in the heat (if the temperature is over 30 degrees) - at high temperatures, heat is not removed from the skin, and sweat cannot evaporate;
Wrong clothes - if the child is dressed too warmly (wrapped up) or he is dressed in synthetic clothing that prevents sweat from evaporating;
Intense physical activity in stuffy rooms and in the heat;
Increased air humidity;
Long hikes during the hot part of the day;
Excess subcutaneous fat - the body of overweight children hardly releases heat;
Lack of fluid intake - if the baby does not drink enough;
Abundant food in the heat;
Taking drugs - antiallergic drugs slow down the processes of heat transfer.

Mothers should remember that the manifestations of sunstroke and heatstroke are more common in light-skinned and fair-haired children, because. they are less tolerant of heat. Violations of heat transfer processes can occur due to the immaturity of the thermoregulation system in young children or due to disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system.

Note! Heatstroke often occurs in babies who are in a closed and stationary car during traffic jams in the heat.

Heatstroke in an adult develops for the same reasons as in babies. Overheating can occur against the background of excessively active physical exertion in the heat, with a long stay in the heat (even in the shade and in public transport).

If human activity is associated with staying in hot shops, i.e. in an unventilated, hot and stuffy room, then overheating is guaranteed. This also applies to lovers of saunas and baths.

Important! Violation of water metabolism is a common cause of overheating. A person should drink at least one and a half liters of liquid per day, and on hot days and during physical exertion, water intake should be increased to three liters per day.

In adults, fluid loss can occur due to the abuse of alcohol and coffee-containing drinks, as well as when taking diuretic drugs.

The lack of liquid increased sweating violates water and electrolyte balance in the blood and contributes to thickening of the blood - as a result, blood circulation is disturbed and hypoxia of organs and tissues develops.

How Heat Stroke Develops: Stages of Development and Symptoms

Heatstroke develops gradually and goes through three main stages:

An increase in temperature to 37-38 degrees, accompanied by respiratory disorders, up to suffocation. There is weakness, fatigue, a feeling of fever, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. This condition occurs due to compression of blood vessels due to overheating, after which blood circulation is disturbed. There is oxygen starvation and active sweating.
The temperature during heat stroke rises to 40 degrees, there is severe dizziness and clouding of consciousness. There is a sharp weakness in the muscles, general lethargy, thirst. The body overheats so much that the sweat glands can no longer cope and cannot give the right amount of heat to the external environment. If a person is not moved to a more adequate environment, then the condition will move into the third stage.
There are profound changes in metabolism and neuropsychiatric disorders. The supply of oxygen is reduced to a minimum, and the amount carbon dioxide increases. The brain lacks nutrition, which can cause seizures and fainting. There are delusions, hallucinations, arrhythmic breathing, psychomotor agitation.
The functioning of the digestive organs is disturbed. Consciousness is confused, up to the onset of coma. If the temperature rise reaches a critical point - 43-44 degrees, irreversible changes occur in the body, and this can be fatal.

Symptoms of heat stroke can be detected already in the first stages, which allows you to take the necessary measures in a timely manner.

Important! The symptoms of sunstroke and heatstroke are similar, but with heatstroke, a rise in temperature is the primary sign of the condition.

Heatstroke and sunstroke are similar in clinical picture, but the symptoms of the latter are more pronounced. Signs of sunstroke develop more rapidly, making sunstroke a particularly severe form of heat stress.

Symptoms in adults

External signs of heat stroke in an adult:

The appearance of an unhealthy blush, redness (or, conversely, pallor) of the body and face;
Sharp weakness and depression of the state or nervous excitement;
Fever and dry skin;
Shortness of breath, difficult or rapid breathing;
Strong thirst;
Darkening in the eyes, "flies" before the eyes, severe dizziness;
Spasms and weakness in the muscles;
, violation of arterial, increased heart rate;
Nausea, vomiting;
Involuntary urination.

The manifestations of heat stroke are listed in order of deterioration of the person's condition and the development of more severe stages. In especially difficult cases, the picture is supplemented by the appearance of convulsions, hallucinations, delirium, cyanosis of the skin, complete disorientation in space, the appearance of bleeding in the organs of the digestive tract.

Symptoms in children

The signs of heat stroke in children are clinically similar to those in adults, but the symptoms are usually more pronounced and the condition more severe.

Important! Children most often suffer from intoxication and, therefore, for them, heat stroke is a pathological condition that can cause serious health problems and is life-threatening. Therefore, even with a mild form in children, you should seek medical help.

In children, the first signs of overheating begin to manifest as nausea, dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, dilated pupils. The skin during heat stroke in a child is moist and pale.

Then the symptoms begin to increase: the child develops adynamia (he does not want to move), movements become uncertain, consciousness begins to get confused, the temperature rises up to 40 degrees, the skin turns red. The child begins to feel an increased heartbeat, may begin to choke, faint or lose consciousness.

First aid and treatment

First aid for heat and sunstroke should be provided already at the first signs of the condition. It should be borne in mind that this is only pre-medical first aid and it is necessary to call a doctor who will help you navigate and determine the severity of the condition.

What to do if you have heat stroke before the doctor arrives:

Conduct or transfer a person to the shade, or better - to a cool room with normal level humidity and well ventilated, away from heat source.
Lay the victim in a horizontal position. It is better to place the legs in an elevated position, and put a folded towel or clothes under the ankles. This will ensure blood flow to the brain.
With nausea or vomiting that has begun, the head of the victim must be slightly turned to one side so that he does not choke on vomit.
Excess clothing should be removed from the child, the chest and neck should be freed. An adult should also remove tight and tight clothing, jewelry and accessories, if possible, take a refreshing shower or cool bath.
Provide fresh air supply. The victim can be fanned with fan-shaped movements.
Restore water balance. The child should be given water often, but in small portions, while the liquid should not be too cold, so as not to provoke stomach cramps and not cause vomiting. It is better to use mineral water without gases or special saline solutions (Normogidron, Regidron). Adults can drink cool water with a little salt or lemon juice. If the condition allows, the patient can be drunk with warm strong tea, fed with juicy and watery fruits and vegetables (watermelon, fresh, citrus fruits).
Rubbing and compresses. Wet any cloth in cool water and apply it to the neck, forehead and nape of the victim, first gently wipe the body with a wet cloth, and then gradually pour water over the body, while the water temperature should not be less than 20 degrees. It is impossible to abruptly move the victim into cold water. Apply a compress (cold water bottle or ice pack) to the back of the head and forehead. A small child can be wrapped in a wet sheet.

Such assistance is carried out with a mild form of heat stroke, in more complex situations, additional measures will be required:

In case of clouding of consciousness, the victim should be given a sniff of ammonia or ammonia solution.
When breathing stops or heart rate chest compressions and artificial respiration should be done.

Hospitalization is indicated in most cases, patients at risk will definitely be hospitalized: the elderly, children, pregnant women, people with problems in the cardiovascular system, people with a weakened body (with food poisoning, alcohol intoxication and etc.).

Important! If within an hour after the onset of characteristic symptoms, the patient is not given timely and correct assistance, then the consequences of heat stroke can be very deplorable, and in especially severe cases can lead to the patient's disability.

Treatment in adults and children of heat stroke is reduced to the provision of a number of resuscitation measures. In a hospital, the victim is administered intravenously cooled saline to lower body temperature and eliminate .

At severe forms stimulation of cardiac activity is carried out by injecting a solution of caffeine-sodium benzoate and injecting an intravenous glucose solution. In case of respiratory disorders, an intramuscular injection of lobelin hydrochloride is given.

After heat stroke in severe cases, a number of additional studies and analyzes are carried out to identify possible complications caused by the condition: urine and blood tests, electrocardiogram.

How many days to treat heat stroke is determined by the severity and duration of overheating. It happens that 1-2 days are enough to restore the body, and sometimes you need to spend several days in bed.

If the patient is discharged, he is prescribed at home special diet, implying a reduction in the diet and an increase in plant foods. In addition, plentiful drinking is recommended: natural compotes, mineral water without gases herbal decoctions, tea, bread kvass.

Prevention of heat stroke

It is easier to prevent heat stroke than to treat this dangerous condition later.

You should try not to stay in the open sun for too long, but, being in it for more than half an hour, cover your head with panama. The best place for walking on a hot sunny day is in the shade of trees

How to prevent the development of heat stroke in children says Dr. Komarovsky:

During sunny weather, dress your child in light-colored clothes made from natural fabrics.
The head of the baby should be protected by a headdress, even if he is in the shade.
Do not be in the sun during active hours: from 10.00 to 17.00.
The child should not engage in intense physical activity in the heat for a long time.
It cannot be allowed to Small child spent an afternoon nap on the beach.
It is necessary to constantly maintain the water balance of the child. At elevated temperatures, fluid intake should reach up to three liters per day. Even babies need extra water.
In case of heat, it is periodically necessary to wipe the child’s body with a wet diaper, often wash the baby with cool water.
At the slightest complaint of malaise, you should immediately leave the hot place and seek medical help.

For adults, the rules for preventing heat stroke are similar to those above. It is only possible to add that adults should not abuse alcohol in the heat, and should not leave the car in the sun in which they are.

Heatstroke- This is a pathological condition that occurs due to severe overheating of the body. The development of heat stroke is accompanied by activation and subsequent depletion of compensatory ( adaptive) cooling systems of the body, resulting in a violation of the functions of vital organs ( heart, blood vessels, central nervous system and so on). This may be accompanied by a marked deterioration general well-being human, and in severe cases, lead to death ( if the victim is not provided with the necessary assistance in a timely manner).

pathogenesis ( origin mechanism) heat stroke

To understand why heat stroke occurs, you need to know some features of the thermoregulation of the human body.

Under normal conditions, the temperature of the human body is maintained at a constant level ( just below 37 degrees). The mechanisms of thermoregulation are controlled by the central nervous system ( brain) and they can be divided into mechanisms that provide an increase in body temperature ( heat production) and mechanisms that provide a decrease in body temperature ( i.e. heat dissipation). The essence of heat transfer is that the human body gives off the heat produced in it to the environment, thus cooling.

Heat transfer is carried out through:

Holding ( convection). In this case, heat is transferred from the body to the particles surrounding it ( air, water). The particles heated by the heat of the human body are replaced by other, colder particles, as a result of which the body cools down. Therefore, the colder the environment, the more intense heat transfer occurs in this way.
Conduction. In this case, heat is transferred from the surface of the skin directly to adjacent objects ( for example, a cold stone or a chair on which a person is sitting).
Emissions ( radiation). In this case, heat transfer occurs as a result of infrared radiation into a colder environment. electromagnetic waves. This mechanism is also active only if the air temperature is below the temperature of the human body.
Water evaporation ( sweat). During evaporation, water particles from the surface of the skin turn into steam. This process proceeds with the consumption of a certain amount of energy that the human body “supplies”. It cools down on its own.

Under normal conditions ( at an ambient temperature of 20 degrees) through evaporation, the human body loses only 20% of heat. At the same time, when the air temperature rises above 37 degrees ( i.e. above body temperature) the first three heat transfer mechanisms ( convection, conduction and radiation) become ineffective. In this case, all heat transfer begins to be provided solely by the evaporation of water from the surface of the skin.

However, the evaporation process can also be disturbed. The fact is that the evaporation of water from the surface of the body will occur only if the surrounding air is “dry”. If the air humidity is high that is, if it is already saturated with water vapor), the liquid will not be able to evaporate from the surface of the skin. The consequence of this will be a rapid and pronounced increase in body temperature, which will lead to the development of heat stroke, accompanied by a violation of the functions of many vital organs and systems ( including cardiovascular, respiratory, fluid and electrolyte balance and so on).

How is heat stroke different from sunstroke?

Sunstroke develops with direct exposure to sunlight on the human body. Infrared radiation, which is part of sunlight, heats not only the surface layers of the skin, but also deeper tissues, including brain tissue, causing damage to it.

When the brain tissues are heated, an expansion of blood vessels is observed in it, which overflow with blood. In addition, as a result of vasodilation, the permeability of the vascular wall increases, as a result of which the liquid part of the blood leaves the vascular bed and moves into the intercellular space ( that is, tissue edema develops). Since the human brain is located in a closed, almost inextensible cavity ( i.e. in the skull), increased blood supply to the vessels and swelling of the surrounding tissues is accompanied by compression of the medulla. Nerve cells ( neurons) at the same time, they begin to experience a lack of oxygen, and with prolonged exposure to damaging factors, they begin to die. This is accompanied by a violation of sensitivity and motor activity, as well as damage to the cardiovascular, respiratory and other systems of the body, which usually causes the death of a person.

It is worth noting that with sunstroke, the whole body also overheats, as a result of which the victim may show signs of not only sunstroke, but also heatstroke.

Causes of heat and sunstroke

The only reason for the development of sunstroke is prolonged exposure to direct sunlight on a person's head. At the same time, heat stroke can develop under other circumstances that contribute to overheating of the body and / or disruption of heat transfer processes ( cooling).

Heatstroke can be caused by:

Stay in the sun during the heat. If on a hot summer day the air temperature in the shade reaches 25 - 30 degrees, in the sun it can exceed 45 - 50 degrees. Naturally, in such conditions, the body will be able to cool itself only through evaporation. However, as mentioned earlier, the compensatory possibilities of evaporation are also limited. This is why heat stroke can develop if you stay in the heat for a long time.

Work near sources of heat. Industrial workers, bakers, metallurgical workers, and other people whose activities involve being near heat sources are at increased risk of developing heat stroke ( ovens, ovens and so on).
Tiresome physical work. During muscle activity, a large amount of heat energy is released. If physical work is performed in a hot room or in direct sunlight, the liquid does not have time to evaporate from the surface of the body and cool it, resulting in sweat drops. The body also overheats.
High air humidity. Increased air humidity is noted near the seas, oceans and other bodies of water, as under the influence of sunlight, water evaporates from them, and its vapors saturate the surrounding air. As mentioned earlier, at high humidity, the efficiency of cooling the body through evaporation is limited. If other cooling mechanisms are also violated ( what happens when the air temperature rises), the rapid development of heat stroke is possible.
Insufficient fluid intake. When the ambient temperature rises above body temperature, the body is cooled solely by evaporation. However, at the same time, he loses a certain amount of fluid. If fluid loss is not replenished in a timely manner, this will lead to dehydration and the development of related complications. The efficiency of evaporation as a cooling mechanism will also decrease, which will contribute to the development of thermal shock.
Incorrect use of clothing. If a person wears clothing that prevents the conduction of heat during a heat wave, this can also lead to the development of heat stroke. The fact is that during the evaporation of sweat, the air between the skin and clothing is quickly saturated with water vapor. As a result, the cooling of the body through evaporation stops, and the body temperature begins to rise rapidly.
Taking certain medications. Exist medicines, which may violate ( oppress) functions of sweat glands. If a person is exposed to heat or near heat sources after taking these medicines, they may develop heat stroke. "Dangerous" drugs include atropine, antidepressants ( drugs used to elevate mood in people with depression), as well as antihistamines used to treat allergic reactions ( such as diphenhydramine).
Damage to the central nervous system. Extremely rarely, the cause of the development of heat stroke can be damage to brain cells that regulate heat transfer processes ( this can be observed with cerebral hemorrhage, trauma, and so on). In this case, overheating of the body can also be noted, but it is usually of secondary importance ( symptoms of damage to the central nervous system come to the fore - impaired consciousness, breathing, heartbeat, and so on).

Can you get sunstroke in a tanning bed?

It is impossible to get a sunstroke in a solarium, which is due to the mechanism of action of the equipment used in this case. The fact is that the lamps used in the solarium emit ultraviolet rays. When exposed to the skin, these rays stimulate the production of melanin pigment in the skin, which gives it a dark, swarthy color ( A similar effect is observed when exposed to the sun.). However, it should be noted that during a visit to the solarium, the human body is not exposed to infrared radiation, which is the main cause of overheating of brain tissues. That is why even a long stay in the solarium will not lead to the development of sunstroke ( however, other complications may develop, such as skin burns.).

Risk factors contributing to the development of heat and sunstroke

In addition to the main causes, there are a number of factors that can increase the risk of developing these pathological conditions.

The development of sunstroke or heatstroke can contribute to:

Childhood. By the time of birth, the mechanisms of thermoregulation of the child are not yet fully formed. Exposure to cold air can quickly lead to hypothermia, while swaddling your baby too hard can lead to overheating and heatstroke.
Elderly age. With age, the mechanisms of thermoregulation are violated, which also contributes to more rapid overheating of the body in conditions of elevated ambient temperature.
Diseases of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland secretes special hormones ( thyroxine and triiodothyronine), which regulate the body's metabolism. Some diseases ( e.g. diffuse toxic goiter) are characterized by excessive production of these hormones, which is accompanied by an increase in body temperature and an increased risk of developing heat stroke.
Obesity. In the human body, heat is produced primarily in the liver ( as a result chemical processes ) and in muscles ( with their active contractions and relaxations). With obesity, an increase in body weight occurs mainly due to fatty tissue, which is located directly under the skin and around the internal organs. Adipose tissue poorly conducts heat generated in the muscles and liver, as a result of which the cooling process of the body is disturbed. That is why, when the ambient temperature rises, obese patients are at a higher risk of developing heat stroke than people with a normal physique.
Taking diuretics. These drugs help to remove fluid from the body. If used incorrectly, dehydration can develop, which will disrupt the process of sweating and cooling the body through the evaporation of sweat.

Symptoms, signs and diagnosis of heat and sunstroke in an adult

As mentioned earlier, the development of heat or sunstroke is accompanied by a violation of the functions of many organs and systems, which leads to the appearance of characteristic symptoms. Correct and quick recognition of the signs of this disease allows you to timely provide the victim with needed help thereby preventing the risk of developing more formidable complications.

Heatstroke can manifest itself:

deterioration in general well-being;
redness of the skin;

an increase in body temperature;
increase in heart rate;
pressure drop;
shortness of breath ( feeling short of breath);

It should be noted right away that signs of heat stroke can also be observed during sunstroke, however, in the latter case, symptoms of damage to the central nervous system will come to the fore ( disturbances of consciousness, convulsions, headaches and so on).

Deterioration in general well-being

At the initial stage of development of heat or sunstroke ( in compensation) is noted moderate disturbance functions of the central nervous system CNS), as a result of which a person becomes lethargic, drowsy, inactive. During the first day, there may be sleep disturbances, as well as periods psychomotor agitation, irritability and aggressive behavior. As the general condition worsens, signs of CNS depression begin to predominate, as a result of which the patient may lose consciousness or even fall into a coma ( a pathological condition in which the patient does not respond to any stimuli).

Skin redness

The cause of reddening of the patient's skin is the expansion of superficial blood vessels. This is a normal reaction of the body that develops when the body overheats. The expansion of the blood vessels of the skin and the influx of "hot" blood into them is accompanied by increased heat transfer, as a result of which the body cools. At the same time, it should be noted that in case of pronounced overheating, as well as in the presence of concomitant diseases cardiovascular system, this compensatory reaction can harm the body.

Increase in body temperature

This is a mandatory symptom that is observed in absolutely all cases of heat stroke. Its occurrence is explained by a violation of the body's cooling process, as well as the expansion of blood vessels and the influx of "hot" blood to the surface of the skin. The skin of the victim is hot and dry to the touch, its elasticity may be reduced ( due to dehydration). Objective measurement of body temperature ( using a medical thermometer) allows you to confirm its increase to 38 - 40 degrees and above.

pressure drop

Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the blood vessels ( arteries). Under normal conditions, it is maintained at a relatively constant level ( about 120/80 millimeters of mercury). When the body overheats, a compensatory expansion of the blood vessels of the skin is noted, as a result of which part of the blood passes into them. At the same time, blood pressure decreases, which can lead to disruption of the blood supply to vital organs and contribute to the development of complications.

To maintain blood circulation at an adequate level, reflex tachycardia is triggered ( increase in heart rate), causing the heart rate of a heatstroke or sunstroke patient to also be elevated ( over 100 beats per minute). It is worth noting that another reason for the increase in heart rate ( heart rate) may be directly high body temperature ( an increase in temperature by 1 degree is accompanied by an increase in heart rate by 10 beats per minute, even at normal pressure).

Headaches

Headaches are most pronounced with sunstroke, but can also occur with heatstroke. The mechanism of their occurrence is associated with an increase in intracranial pressure, as well as swelling of the brain tissue and meninges. Meninges are rich in sensitive nerve endings, as a result of which their overstretching ( with edema) accompanied by severe pain. The pains are permanent in nature, and their intensity can be moderate or extremely pronounced.

Dizziness and fainting loss of consciousness)

The cause of dizziness during heat stroke is a violation of the blood supply to the brain, which develops as a result of the expansion of the blood vessels of the skin and the passage of part of the blood into them. At the same time, brain cells begin to experience a lack of oxygen, which is normally transported to them by red blood cells. If in this state a person abruptly switches from the “lying” position to the “standing” position, the lack of oxygen at the level of neurons ( nerve cells brain) can reach critical level, which will lead to a temporary disruption of their functions. The defeat of the neurons that control the coordination of movements will be manifested by dizziness, and with a more pronounced oxygen deficiency at the level of the brain, a person may even lose consciousness.

Dyspnea

Increased breathing occurs with an increase in body temperature and is also a compensatory reaction aimed at cooling the body. The fact is that when passing through the respiratory tract, the inhaled air is cleaned, moistened and warmed. In the terminal parts of the lungs ( that is, in the alveoli, in which the process of transfer of oxygen from air to blood takes place) the temperature of the air is equal to the temperature of the human body. When you exhale, the air is released into the environment, thereby removing heat from the body.

It should be noted that this cooling mechanism is most effective only if the ambient temperature is below body temperature. If the temperature of the inhaled air is higher than body temperature, the body does not cool down, and the increased respiratory rate only contributes to the development of complications. Moreover, in the process of humidifying the inhaled air, the body also loses fluid, which can contribute to dehydration.

convulsions

Cramps are involuntary muscle contractions during which a person can remain conscious and experience severe pain. The cause of convulsions during sun and heat stroke is a violation of the blood supply to the brain, as well as an increase in body temperature, which leads to a violation of the functions of the nerve cells of the brain. Children are most at risk of developing seizures during heat stroke, as their convulsive activity of brain neurons is much more pronounced than in adults.

It is worth noting that during a sunstroke, convulsions can also be observed, the cause of which is the direct heating of the neurons of the brain and a violation of their activity.

Nausea and vomiting

Heatstroke nausea can occur as a result of a fall blood pressure. In this case, the mechanism of its occurrence is explained by the development of a lack of oxygen at the level of brain neurons. Also, the development of nausea can contribute to dizziness that occurs with low blood pressure. Such nausea may be accompanied by single or repeated vomiting. The vomit may contain recently eaten food ( if a person gets heatstroke after eating) or gastric juice ( if the victim's stomach is empty). Vomiting does not bring relief to the patient, that is, after it, a feeling of nausea may persist.

Can you have diarrhea with heat stroke or sunstroke?

With heat stroke, there may be a violation of digestion, accompanied by the development of diarrhea. The mechanism of development of this symptom is explained by the fact that in any stressful situation ( including heatstroke) impaired motor skills gastrointestinal tract, as a result of which the intestinal contents are retained in the intestinal loops. Over time, fluid is released into the intestinal lumen, as a result of which loose stools form.

Drinking large amounts of liquid can contribute to the development of diarrhea ( against the background of dehydration and thirst). However, it can also accumulate in the intestinal lumen, contributing to the occurrence of diarrhea.

Can you have chills with heat stroke?

Chills are a kind of muscle trembling that occurs when the body is overcooled. Also, this symptom can be observed with an increase in temperature against the background of some infectious diseases. inflammatory diseases. In this case, chills are accompanied by a subjective sensation of coldness in the extremities ( in arms and legs). With hypothermia, chills are a compensatory reaction ( muscle contractions are accompanied by the release of heat and warming the body). At the same time, with an increase in body temperature, chills are pathological symptom indicating a violation of thermoregulation. In this case, the thermoregulatory center ( located in the brain) incorrectly perceives body temperature as low, as a result of which it triggers a compensatory reaction ( i.e. muscle tremor).

It is worth noting that chills can be observed only at the initial stage of the development of heat stroke. In the future, the body temperature rises significantly, as a result of which muscle trembling stops.

Forms of heat stroke

FROM clinical point vision, it is customary to distinguish several forms of heat stroke ( depending on which symptoms are most pronounced in the clinical picture of the disease). This allows you to select the maximum effective treatment for each individual patient.

From a clinical point of view, there are:

Asphyxic form of heat stroke. In this case, signs of damage to the respiratory system come to the fore ( shortness of breath, rapid or infrequent breathing). In this case, the body temperature can rise to 38 - 39 degrees, and other symptoms ( dizziness, convulsions, etc.) may be weakly expressed or absent altogether.
hyperthermic form. With this form of the disease, a pronounced increase in body temperature comes to the fore ( over 40 degrees) and related dysfunctions of vital organs ( drop in blood pressure, dehydration, seizures).
cerebral ( cerebral) form. Characterized predominant lesion central nervous system, which can be manifested by convulsions, impaired consciousness, headaches, and so on. Body temperature may be moderately elevated or high ( 38 to 40 degrees).
Gastroenteric form. In this case, from the first hours of the disease, the patient may experience severe nausea and repeated vomiting, and at later stages of development, diarrhea may appear. Other signs of heat stroke ( dizziness, redness of the skin, respiratory problems) are also present, but weakly or moderately expressed. Body temperature in this form rarely exceeds 39 degrees.

Stages of heat stroke

Overheating of the body proceeds in several stages, each of which is accompanied by certain changes in the functioning of internal organs and systems, as well as characteristic clinical manifestations.

In the development of heat stroke, there are:

stage of compensation. It is characterized by heating of the body, during which the activation of its compensatory ( cooling) systems. This may result in redness of the skin, profuse sweating, thirst ( against the background of fluid loss from the body) etc. The body temperature is maintained at a normal level.
Decompensation stage ( actual heat stroke). At this stage, overheating of the body becomes so pronounced that compensatory cooling mechanisms are ineffective. At the same time, the body temperature rises rapidly, as a result of which the signs of heat stroke, listed above, appear.

Heat and sunstroke in a child

The reasons for the development of this pathology in a child are the same as in an adult ( overheating, heat dissipation failure and so on). At the same time, it is worth recalling that the mechanisms of thermoregulation in the child's body are poorly developed. That is why when a child is exposed to hot air or direct exposure to sunlight, the first signs of heat or sunstroke may appear in a few minutes or hours. The development of the disease can also contribute to obesity, insufficient fluid intake, physical activity ( e.g. while playing on the beach) etc.

Treatment for heat and sunstroke

The primary task in the treatment of heat and / or sunstroke is to cool the body, which allows you to normalize the functions of vital organs and systems. In the future, symptomatic treatment is used, aimed at restoring the functions of damaged organs and preventing the development of complications.

Providing first aid to a victim of heat or sunstroke

If a person shows signs of heat or sunstroke, it is recommended to call an ambulance. At the same time, begin to provide emergency care the victim needs as soon as possible, without waiting for the arrival of doctors. This will prevent further damage to the body and the development of formidable complications.

First aid for heat and sunstroke includes:

elimination causative factor. The first thing to do in case of heat or sunstroke is to prevent further overheating of the body. If a person is exposed to direct sunlight, they should be moved to the shade as soon as possible, which will prevent further heating of the brain tissue. If heat stroke occurs outdoors ( in the heat), the victim should be taken or transferred to a cool room ( to the entrance of the house, an air-conditioned shop, an apartment and so on). In the event of a heat stroke at work, the patient should be carried as far as possible from the heat source. The purpose of these manipulations is to restore the disturbed heat transfer mechanisms ( through conduction and radiation), which is possible only if the ambient temperature is lower than body temperature.
Providing the victim with rest. Any movement will be accompanied by increased heat production ( due to muscle contractions), which will slow down the cooling process of the body. Moreover, during independent movement, the victim may experience dizziness ( due to a drop in blood pressure and impaired blood supply to the brain), which could cause it to fall and injure itself further. That is why it is not recommended for a patient with heat stroke to travel to medical institution. It is best to put him to bed in a cool room, where he will wait for the ambulance to arrive. If there are signs of impaired consciousness, the victim's legs should be raised 10-15 cm above the level of the head. This will increase blood flow to the brain, thereby preventing oxygen starvation of nerve cells.
Removal of clothes from the victim. Any clothes ( even the thinnest) will disrupt the process of heat transfer, thereby slowing down the cooling of the body. That is why, immediately after the elimination of the causative factor of overheating, the victim should be undressed as quickly as possible, removing outer clothing ( if any), as well as shirts, T-shirts, pants, hats ( including caps, panamas) etc. You do not need to take off your underwear, as it will not affect the cooling process in any way.
Applying a cold compress to the forehead. To prepare a compress, you can take any handkerchief or towel, soak it in cold water and attach it to the patient's frontal area. This procedure should be performed for both heat stroke and sunstroke. This will help to cool the brain tissue, as well as the blood flowing through cerebral vessels blood to prevent further damage to nerve cells. For heat stroke, applying cold compresses to the limbs will also be effective ( in the area of the wrists ankle joints ). However, it is important to remember that when applying a cold compress to the skin, it heats up quite quickly ( within 1 - 2 minutes), after which its cooling effect decreases. That is why it is recommended to re-wet the towels in cold water every 2-3 minutes. Applying compresses should be continued for a maximum of 30-60 minutes or until the ambulance arrives.
Sprinkling the body of the victim with cool water. If the patient's condition allows that is, if he does not complain of severe dizziness and does not lose consciousness), he is advised to take a cool shower. This will allow you to quickly cool the skin, thereby accelerating the cooling of the body. The water temperature should not be below 20 degrees. If the patient complains of dizziness or is unconscious, his face and body can be sprayed with cold water 2-3 times with an interval of 3-5 minutes, which will also accelerate heat transfer.
Prevention of dehydration. If the patient is conscious, he should immediately be given a few sips of cool water to drink ( no more than 100 ml at a time), to which you need to add a little salt ( 1/4 teaspoon for 1 cup). The fact is that in the process of development of thermal shock ( at the stage of compensation) increased sweating. In this case, the body loses not only fluid, but also electrolytes ( including sodium), which may be accompanied by dysfunction of the central nervous system and other organs. Reception of salt water will allow you to restore not only the volume of fluid in the body, but also the electrolyte composition of the blood, which is one of the key points in the treatment of heat stroke.
Ensuring fresh air supply. If the patient is experiencing shortness of breath ( feeling short of breath), this may indicate an asphyxic form of heat stroke. In this case, the victim's body lacks oxygen. It is possible to provide an increased flow of oxygen by transferring the patient to the street ( if the air temperature does not exceed 30 degrees) or by adequate ventilation of the room in which it is located. You can also fan the patient with a towel or point a running fan at the patient. This will not only provide an influx of fresh air, but also accelerate the cooling of the body.
Use of ammonia. If the victim is unconscious, you can try to bring him to his senses with ammonia ( if one is available). To do this, a few drops of alcohol should be applied to a cotton swab or handkerchief and brought to the nose of the victim. Inhalation of alcohol vapors is accompanied by stimulation of respiration and the central nervous system, as well as a moderate increase in blood pressure, which can lead the patient to feelings.
Respiratory protection. If the patient has nausea and vomiting, and his consciousness is impaired, you should turn him on his side, tilting his head slightly face down and placing a small roller under it ( e.g. from a folded towel). This position of the victim will prevent the entry of vomit into the respiratory tract, which could cause the development of formidable complications from the lungs ( pneumonia).
Artificial respiration and cardiac massage. If the casualty is unconscious, not breathing, or has no heartbeat, start immediately. resuscitation (artificial respiration and chest compressions). They should be done before the arrival of the ambulance. This is the only way to save the patient's life if he has a cardiac arrest.

What can not be done with heat and sunstroke?

There is a list of procedures and activities that are not recommended when the body overheats, as this can contribute to damage to internal organs or the development of complications.

In case of heat and sunstroke, it is strictly prohibited:

Place the patient in cold water. If a superheated body is completely placed in cold water ( e.g. in the bath), which can lead to severe hypothermia ( due to dilated blood vessels in the skin). In addition, when exposed to cold water, a reflex spasm may occur ( constriction) of these vessels, resulting in a large amount of blood from the periphery to the heart. This will lead to an overload of the heart muscle, which can cause complications ( pain in the heart, heart attack, that is, the death of muscle cells of the heart, and so on).
Take an ice cold shower. The consequences of this procedure can be the same as when the patient is placed in cold water. Moreover, cooling the body with ice water can contribute to the development of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system ( i.e. pneumonia, bronchitis, tonsillitis and so on).
Apply cold compresses to chest and back. Applying cold compresses to the chest and back for a long time can also contribute to pneumonia.
Drinking alcohol. Alcohol consumption is always accompanied by dilatation of peripheral blood vessels ( including skin vessels), which is due to the action of its constituent ethyl alcohol. However, with heat stroke, the skin vessels are already dilated. Reception alcoholic beverages at the same time, it can contribute to the redistribution of blood and a more pronounced drop in blood pressure, accompanied by a violation of the blood supply to the brain.

Medicines ( tablets) in heat and sunstroke

Only a doctor can prescribe any medication to a victim of heat or sunstroke. At the stage of first aid, it is not recommended to give the patient any medication, as this can only worsen his condition.

Medical treatment for heat/sunstroke

Purpose of prescribing medication	What drugs are used?	Mechanism of therapeutic action
*Cooling the body and fighting dehydration*	Saline(0.9% sodium chloride solution)	These drugs are administered intravenously in a hospital setting. They should be used in a slightly chilled state ( the temperature of the injected solutions should not be higher than 25 degrees). This allows you to reduce body temperature, as well as restore the volume of circulating blood and the electrolyte composition of the plasma ( Ringer's solution contains sodium, potassium, calcium and chlorine).
	*Ringer's solution*
	*Glucose solutions*
*Maintaining the functions of the cardiovascular system*	*Refortan*	Solution for intravenous administration, which provides replenishment of the volume of circulating blood, thereby contributing to an increase in blood pressure.
	*Mezaton*	This drug increases the tone of blood vessels, thereby restoring blood pressure. The drug does not affect the heart muscle, and therefore it can be used even with a pronounced increase in heart rate.
	*Adrenalin*	It is prescribed for a pronounced drop in blood pressure, as well as for cardiac arrest. Provides narrowing of blood vessels, and also enhances the contractile activity of the heart muscle.
*Maintaining the functions of the respiratory system*	*Cordiamin*	This drug stimulates certain parts of the central nervous system, in particular the respiratory center and the vasomotor center. This is accompanied by an increase in respiratory rate, as well as an increase in blood pressure.
*Maintaining the functions of the respiratory system*	*Oxygen*	If the patient has difficulty breathing, he should be provided with an adequate supply of oxygen through the use of an oxygen mask or other similar procedures.
*Prevention of brain damage*	*Sodium thiopental*	This drug is used in anesthesiology to introduce a patient into anesthesia ( artificial sleep state). One of the features of its action is to reduce the need for brain cells in oxygen, which prevents their damage during cerebral edema ( against the backdrop of sunstroke). Also, the drug has a certain anticonvulsant effect ( prevents the development of seizures). At the same time, it is worth noting that thiopental has a number of adverse reactions, as a result of which it should be prescribed only in the intensive care unit, under the close supervision of medical personnel.

Is it possible to drink antipyretic drugs ( aspirin, paracetamol) in heat and sunstroke?

With heat and sunstroke, these drugs are ineffective. The fact is that paracetamol, aspirin and other similar drugs are anti-inflammatory drugs, which also have a certain antipyretic effect. Under normal conditions, the penetration of a foreign infection into the body, as well as the occurrence of some other diseases, is accompanied by the development of an inflammatory process in the tissues. One of the manifestations of this process is an increase in body temperature associated with the formation of special substances in the focus of inflammation ( inflammatory mediators). The mechanism of the antipyretic action of paracetamol and aspirin in this case is that they inhibit the activity of the inflammatory process, thereby suppressing the synthesis of inflammatory mediators, which leads to the normalization of body temperature.

With heat and sunstroke, the temperature rises due to a violation of heat transfer processes. Inflammatory reactions and inflammatory mediators have nothing to do with this, as a result of which paracetamol, aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs will not have any antipyretic effect in this case.

Effects of heat stroke or sunstroke on adults and children

With timely first aid, the development of heat or sunstroke can be stopped in the initial stages. In this case, all the symptoms of the disease will pass in 2-3 days, leaving no consequences behind. At the same time, delay in providing first aid to the victim can lead to damage to vital organs and systems, which may be accompanied by the development severe complications requiring long-term hospitalization.

Heat and/or sunstroke can be aggravated by:

Thickening of the blood. When the body is dehydrated, the liquid part of the blood also leaves the vascular bed, leaving only the cellular elements of the blood there. The blood becomes thick and viscous, which increases the risk of blood clots ( blood clots). These blood clots can clog blood vessels in various organs ( in the brain, in the lungs, in the extremities), which will be accompanied by a violation of blood circulation in them and lead to the death of the cells of the affected organ. Moreover, pumping thick, viscous blood creates additional stress on the heart, which can lead to the development of complications ( such as myocardial infarction - a life-threatening condition in which some of the muscle cells of the heart die and its contractile activity is impaired).
Acute heart failure. The cause of heart failure may be an increase in the load on the heart muscle ( as a result of blood clotting and increased heart rate), as well as damage to muscle cells as a result of overheating of the body ( at the same time, the metabolism and energy in them are disturbed, as a result of which they can die). At the same time, a person may complain of severe pain in the region of the heart, severe weakness, shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air, and so on. Treatment should be carried out exclusively in a hospital.
Acute respiratory failure. The reason for the development of respiratory failure may be damage to the respiratory center in the brain. At the same time, the respiratory rate decreases rapidly, as a result of which oxygen delivery to internal organs and tissues is disrupted.
Acute renal failure. As a result of dehydration, the process of urine formation is disrupted, which negatively affects kidney cells. Moreover, various metabolic by-products formed in the body as a result of exposure to high temperatures contribute to kidney damage. All this can lead to irreversible damage to the kidney tissue, as a result of which the urinary function of the organ will be impaired.

Shock

Shock is a life-threatening condition that develops against the background of severe dehydration, dilation of blood vessels and overheating of the body. Shock during heat stroke or sunstroke is characterized by a pronounced drop in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, impaired blood supply to vital organs, and so on. In this case, the skin may become pale and cold, and the patient himself may lose consciousness or fall into a coma.

Treatment of such patients should be carried out exclusively in the intensive care unit, where the functions of the cardiovascular, respiratory and other body systems will be maintained.

CNS lesion

Heatstroke may be accompanied by fainting ( loss of consciousness), which passes a few minutes after the start of first aid. In more severe cases, the patient may fall into a coma, which may require several days of intensive treatment to recover from.

Pronounced and prolonged damage to the brain during sunstroke may be accompanied by a violation various functions central nervous system. In particular, the patient may experience sensory or motor activity disorders in the limbs, hearing or vision disorders, speech disorders, and so on. The reversibility of these disorders depends on how quickly the correct diagnosis was made and specific treatment started.

What is the danger of heat and sunstroke during pregnancy?

With heat stroke, the body of a pregnant woman develops the same changes as in the body ordinary person (body temperature rises, blood pressure falls, etc.). However, in addition to harm to the female body, it can also harm the developing fetus.

Heat and sunstroke during pregnancy can be complicated by:

Marked drop in blood pressure. The delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus is provided through the placenta - a special organ that appears in female body during pregnancy. With a drop in blood pressure, the blood supply to the placenta may be disturbed, which may be accompanied by oxygen starvation fetus and death.
Convulsions. During convulsions, there is a strong contraction of various muscles, which can lead to damage to the fetus in the uterus.
Loss of consciousness and fall. During a fall, both the woman and the developing fetus can get injured. This can cause his intrauterine death or developmental anomalies.

Is it possible to die from heat and sunstroke?

Heatstroke and sunstroke are life-threatening conditions in which the victim can die if the necessary assistance is not provided in a timely manner.

Causes of death from heat stroke and sunstroke can be:

Cerebral edema. In this case, as a result of an increase in intracranial pressure, nerve cells that provide vital functions will be compressed ( like breathing). The patient then dies from respiratory arrest.
Cardiovascular insufficiency. A pronounced drop in blood pressure can lead to a lack of oxygen at the level of the brain, which will be accompanied by the death of nerve cells and can lead to the death of the patient.
Convulsive seizures. During an attack of convulsions, the breathing process is disturbed, since the respiratory muscles cannot contract and relax normally. With too long an attack, as well as with frequently repeated attacks, a person can die from suffocation.
Dehydration of the body. severe dehydration ( when a person loses more than 10% of weight per day) can be fatal if you do not start to restore the water and electrolyte reserves of the body in time.
Violation of the blood coagulation system. Dehydration and an increase in body temperature contribute to the formation of blood clots ( blood clots). If such blood clots block the vessels of the heart, brain or lungs, this can lead to the death of the patient.

Prevention ( how to avoid heat and sunstroke?)

The goal of prevention of heat and sunstroke is to prevent overheating of the body, as well as to ensure the normal operation of its thermoregulatory systems.

Sunstroke prevention includes:

Limiting time spent in the sun. As already mentioned, sunstroke can only develop as a result of exposure to direct sunlight on a person's head. The most "dangerous" in this regard is the time from 10 am to 4 - 5 pm, when solar radiation is most intense. That is why during this period of time it is not recommended to sunbathe on the beach, as well as play or work under the scorching sun.

Use of headgear. Lung use headgear ( caps, panama hats and so on) will reduce the intensity of the effect of infrared radiation on the brain, which will prevent the development of sunstroke. It is important that the headdress is light ( white) colors. The fact is that the white color reflects almost all the sun's rays, as a result of which it heats up weakly. At the same time, black hats will absorb most of the solar radiation, while heating up and contributing to overheating of the body.

Prevention of heat stroke includes:

Limitation of time spent in the heat. The rate of development of heat stroke depends on many factors - the age of the patient, the humidity of the air, the degree of dehydration of the body, and so on. However, regardless of the predisposing factors, it is not recommended to stay in the heat or near heat sources for a long time ( adults - more than 1 - 2 hours in a row, children - more than 30 - 60 minutes).
Limitation of physical activity in the heat. As already mentioned, physical activity is accompanied by overheating of the body, which contributes to the development of heat stroke. That is why, when performing hard physical work in hot weather, it is recommended to observe the regime of work and rest, taking breaks every 30 to 60 minutes. The clothes of children playing in the heat should be light ( or it may be completely absent.), which will provide maximum cooling of the body through evaporation.
Plentiful drink. Under normal conditions, a person is recommended to consume at least 2-3 liters of fluid per day ( this is a relative figure that may fluctuate depending on the patient's body weight, the presence of concomitant diseases, and so on). With an increased risk of developing heat stroke, the amount of fluid consumed per day should be increased by about 50 - 100%, which will prevent dehydration. At the same time, it is recommended to drink not only ordinary water, but also tea, coffee, low-fat milk, juices, and so on.
Proper nutrition. When staying in the heat, it is recommended to limit the consumption of high-calorie foods ( fatty foods, meat, fried foods and so on), as it contributes to an increase in body temperature. It is recommended that the main emphasis be placed on plant foods ( vegetable and fruit salads and purees, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, fresh juices and so on). It is also recommended to limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages, as they dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure, which can aggravate the course of heat stroke.

Before use, you should consult with a specialist.