Authors: Jonathan Baird / Editor: Adrian Boyle / Reviewer: Mohamed Elwakil, Grace McKay / Code: A5, R3 / Published: 23/07/2021
This session covers the assessment, treatment and management of patients presenting to an emergency department (ED) with the effects of heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
By the end of this session you will be able to:
- Describe the different types of heat-related illness
- Outline the basic physiology of thermoregulation
- Summarise the pathological effects of increased body heat on human tissue
- Explain the clinical features of heat-related illness
- Identify the differential diagnosis of heat-related illness
- Explain the management of heat exhaustion and heat stroke
- Recognise the prevention and risk factors for heat-related illness
References
- Keatinge WR. Death in heat waves: simple preventive measures may help reduce mortality. BMJ 2003;327:512-513. View article
- Despopoulos A, Silbernagl S. Colour Atlas of Physiology. 4th edn. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers; 1991.
- Davis PD, Kenny GNC. Basic Physics and Measurement in Anaesthesia. 5th edn. London: Butterworth Heinemann, 2003.
- Bouchama A, Hammama MM, Haq A et al. Evidence for endothelial cell activation/injury in heatstroke. Crit Care Med 1996;24:1173-1178. View abstract
- Lu KC, Wang JY, Lin SH et al. Role of circulatory cytokines and chemokines in exertional heatstroke. Crit Care Med 2004;32:399-403. View abstract
- Bouchama A, Kochel JP. Heat stroke. N Engl J Med 2002;346:1978-1988.
- Kovats R. Heat waves and health protection. BMJ 2006;333:314-315. View article
