home Audience 5 Heatstroke in a child under 2 years of age. Heatstroke in a child: symptoms and treatment, how long. What is heatstroke in children

Heatstroke in a child under 2 years of age. Heatstroke in a child: symptoms and treatment, how long. What is heatstroke in children

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

Brief information and signs

Heatstroke is a consequence of human exposure to high ambient temperatures. If, during exposure to the sun, mainly only the head is negatively affected, then overheating affects the entire body, which makes it more dangerous and the presence of possible manifestations on the part of all organs.

Doctor's note: a child's body is more vulnerable, and heatstroke can happen to a baby even if the temperature indoors or outdoors seems quite bearable for an adult.

The first signs of heat stroke are moodiness, redness of the face, cold sweat appearing on the skin and a constant desire to drink.

Symptoms of this phenomenon in a child also include:
weakness, drowsiness;
cramps in the tummy;
headache and dizziness;
darkening, flashing dots or goosebumps before the eyes;
as the situation worsens, fever, shortness of breath, convulsions, and symptoms of dehydration appear;

nosebleeds and vomiting (in the most difficult situations).

Fighting Heat Stroke

This condition should never be ignored, as the progression of symptoms can lead to life-threatening conditions. The main rule is that when the first symptoms and suspicions of heatstroke appear, you must immediately call an ambulance.

First aid

While you are waiting for the doctors to arrive, you cannot remain idle; the child must be given proper first aid. You need to act according to the following algorithm:
the thermal effect must be stopped urgently, that is, the baby must be moved to a cooler place;
so that the child does not begin to choke when vomiting appears, he probably needs to be laid on his side, with his head positioned in the same way;
You can wipe the chest and head with a wet, cold towel, or at least frequently blow on the child, forcing cool air to circulate;
if the child is conscious, then he needs to be offered water. You need to drink it in small sips.

Measures to lower body temperature

Blowing, fanning and wiping 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 does appear (this happens with severe shocks, when the symptoms develop very rapidly), then measures must be taken to reduce it.

Wiping with water should be done more abundantly, paying special attention to those places where the vessels are located closest to the skin (pits under the knee, armpits, groin area, etc.). Please note that the water should not be too cold, as this can provoke spasms and worsen the child’s condition. The recommended temperature of the liquid for wiping is room temperature.

If necessary, you can bathe the child in water at a temperature of 25 degrees, but after the procedure you cannot 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 may make the situation worse.

If, during exposure to the sun, only the head is negatively affected, then overheating affects the entire body

Treatment

Infancy and early age with heatstroke are a direct indication for hospitalization, and immediate hospitalization. For older children, the issue of hospital placement is decided separately in each specific case. If the thermal effect is mild, then treatment at home is possible.

To combat the manifestations of the problem, the following remedies can be prescribed:

belladonna to combat a number of symptoms of heat stroke, including headaches;
the appearance of seizures requires the use of cuprum metallicum;
vomiting, nausea and stomach upsets are indications for the use of natrum carbonicum.

The listed and other medications must be prescribed by a doctor and taken in the quantities recommended by him.

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 aggravate it:

you need to cool the body gradually, there is no need to try to perform manipulations quickly;
do not use cold water;
You cannot leave the child until the doctor arrives in the same place where the negative temperature effect was exerted; moving to a cooler place is simply necessary;
and most importantly, you cannot try to cure a child on your own, it can end in disaster.

Nutritional Features

One of the most important elements of treatment is proper drinking regimen. The supply of drink should be plentiful, not cold, and should be taken in small sips.

Diet therapy is very often used at an early age. When breastfeeding on the day of the incident, it is recommended to skip one feeding and reduce the total daily amount of food by a third for some time. Gradually the volumes return to normal. The diet of a child who has already been weaned must include fermented milk products.

Drinking plenty of fluids is mandatory, but the water should not be cold

Prevention

Prevention of heat stroke is simple; the basic rule is to avoid rooms or places with hot air. Inside the child’s home, the temperature should not exceed 23 degrees, while an uninterrupted and safe flow of fresh air must be properly organized in the room.

Make sure your baby drinks enough fluids and don't overfeed him on hot days. Regarding the rules for walking outside:
hats to protect from direct exposure to sunlight must be taken with you and worn on the baby outside;
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 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 trouble does occur, then a timely and adequate response will help to cope with the problem at an early stage without any difficulties.

Many parents underestimate the dangers of heat stroke, but in vain - the length of time a child spends in the open sun during the summer season must be strictly controlled

What is heatstroke?

outside in the summer heat;

Causes of Heat Stroke
excess weight;

pathologies of the central nervous system;

Signs in a baby
baby crying loudly;
poor appetite;

general weakness, apathy.

Symptoms in children over one year of age
dizziness;
headache;
strong feeling of thirst;
increased body temperature;
skin redness;
dry lips;
sudden attacks of vomiting;
general weakness.

Heatstroke Treatment

How to help a baby?

Treatment of children 2-3 years old

hormonal agents;

Consequences of hyperthermia

Causes of overheating

high air humidity;

Complexion	Pale	Red with bright blush
Leather	Wet, sticky	Dry, hot to the touch
Thirst	Pronounced	May already be missing
Sweating	Enhanced	Reduced
Consciousness	Possible fainting
Headache	Characteristic	Characteristic
Body temperature		High, sometimes 40°C and above
Breath	Normal	Rapid, superficial
Heartbeat	Rapid, weak pulse
Convulsions	Rarely	Present

First aid for overheating

Heat stroke is life-threatening for a child. Children's bodies are especially susceptible to sunstroke if they do not drink enough fluids and are exposed to direct sunlight for a long time in the summer.

A child's body produces a huge amount of heat. Typically, bodies cool by sweating and radiating heat through the skin. But on a very sunny and hot day, the natural cooling system can fail, allowing heat to build up in the body to dangerous levels. As a result, heat stroke may occur.

The following signs will help determine that a child has had a heatstroke: dizziness, fever, lethargy, pale skin, vomiting, diarrhea.

Causes

Sunstroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is often accompanied by dehydration. Heat stroke is life-threatening for small children, in particular infants (for children under one year old). Body temperature can rise to 41°C or even higher, leading to brain damage or even death.

One of the reasons that increases the likelihood of sunstroke in children may be increased physical activity (at home, at sea, etc.) in hot weather with insufficient fluid intake. Another reason is dehydration.

Children's dehydrated bodies are unable to sweat quickly enough to dissipate the heat that keeps their body temperature high.

Also, heatstroke in children can occur when you leave them in a parked car for a long time during hot days.

Overheating occurs especially often in a combination of high temperature and high humidity. Dressing an infant in too many layers of clothing can cause physical stress, leading to overheating even when the ambient temperature is not too hot.

Prolonged exposure to high temperatures, direct sunlight and insufficient fluid intake will lead to a sharp deterioration in the child’s well-being.

Symptoms and signs

The first signs of dehydration appear as fatigue, thirst, dry lips and tongue, lack of energy and feeling of heat in the body. After some time, the following symptoms appear, the consequences of which are extremely dangerous:

pale skin;
confusion in conversation, unconsciousness;
darkening of urine;
Symptoms in children over one year of age
fainting;
hallucinations;
fatigue;
headache;
fast and shallow breathing;
fast heartbeat;
muscle or abdominal cramps;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
gastrointestinal bleeding;
renal failure syndrome;
acute kidney damage.

Diagnostics

The presence of obvious symptoms already makes it possible to make a diagnosis, but in medical institutions it is imperative to make a differential diagnosis with such diseases as: delirium tremens, hepatic encephalopathy, uremic encephalopathy, hyperthyroidism, meningitis, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, tetanus, cocaine poisoning, which have similar symptoms and signs.

Tests include:

blood test - how much sodium, potassium and gases are in the blood to assess how much damage has been caused to the central nervous system;
urine test - check the color of urine; as a rule, it darkens when the kidneys are overheated, which may be affected by heat stroke;
checking muscle tissue damage and other internal organ tests.

Treatment

Treatment consists of quickly reducing body temperature to normal levels. If a child experiences heat stroke and at least one of the symptoms appears, call an ambulance immediately.

If you can take your child to the hospital yourself, do so as quickly as possible. Follow-up treatment can take place at home.

First aid must be provided without delay, otherwise the consequences may be fatal.

Over time, irreversible processes occur in the body, which subsequently damage the central nervous system, which can lead to disability or even death.

First aid Waiting for doctors Following a simple strategy to cool your baby's body. The main thing is to do everything quickly:

move the child to a cooler place or shade;
remove excess clothing;
Provide plenty of fluids, give cool liquids containing salt and sugar;
For a child under one year old, you can give breast milk, formula or baby food.

Reduce the temperature

Reducing the temperature is the first action you should take after calling the doctors. Try to lower your core body temperature as quickly as possible. Monitor your child's consciousness, as sunstroke can very easily lead to fainting. The child's condition is directly related to how long heat stroke lasts.

Do not use antipyretics! The use of antipyretic medications (for example, paracetamol) is inappropriate and even dangerous.

Methods to reduce temperature:

wet the entire body with water using a sponge or cloth;
turn on the fan to speed up the heat transfer process;
wipe the entire skin with alcohol or kefir;
use ice packs, placing them in the armpits, groin, and neck, since these areas are rich in blood vessels;
Immerse the victim in a bath or shower with cold water.

Prevention

Prevention is a precautionary measure to prevent heat stroke in a child and other heat-related illnesses.

If you'll be outdoors, wear a light, wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella to avoid direct sunlight and sunburn.
Teach your children to always drink plenty of fluids before and during any activity in hot and sunny weather, even if they are not thirsty.
Babies who are breastfed also need more fluid from the bottle or breast.
If you are a nursing mother, you should increase your fluid intake to prevent dehydration.

Dress your children in light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
If you go for a walk, take sunglasses, a hat and cream with you.
Do not allow children to be outdoors during the hottest hours of the day.
Instruct them to come indoors immediately when they feel ill and to stay indoors until the effects of sunstroke subside.
The room should be well ventilated, preferably with air conditioning.

And most importantly, never leave your child unattended in a car, on the street, at sea, etc. during the hot season.

Summer is a long-awaited time for every child. At this time of 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 heatstroke. It is very important to know how to prevent heatstroke and what to do if this trouble does occur to your child.

Many parents underestimate the dangers of heat stroke, but in vain - the length of time a child spends in the open sun during 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 disrupted. The body receives a large amount of heat from the outside, in addition to that generated as a result of vital activity, which leads to overheating.

Heatstroke can be caused by prolonged exposure to:

What is heatstroke?
in a room with high air temperature;
wearing clothes that are too warm and out of season.

outside in the summer heat;

The main reason is severe overheating of the body. When you spend a long time in a hot room or outside 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 released when cold air is inhaled and capillaries located close to the surface of the skin expand. In summer, the air temperature is high, which means that the body does not release heat to warm it. Other types of thermoregulation do their job well if you do not interfere with them.

In order to protect a child from overheating, it is necessary to ensure that he has something to quench his thirst, and that clothing does not prevent the evaporation of sweat. Liquid 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 does not cool. Clothing should not be too tight to the body so as not to interfere with heat dissipation.

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 on the body;
physical activity in the summer heat;
Causes of Heat Stroke
fair-skinned children are more likely to overheat;
excess weight;
unstable thermoregulation system.

Symptoms in children at different ages

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

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

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

pathologies of the central nervous system;

Babies under one year old are often hypothermic and easily overheat, so there is no need to wrap them up in a well-warmed room. Heat stroke can be determined by the following signs:

Signs in a baby
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);
baby crying loudly;
poor appetite;

In infants, the process of dehydration occurs very quickly, so at the first symptoms of heat stroke you should seek medical help.

If a child develops characteristic symptoms, he needs to provide first aid and go to a medical facility. If heatstroke in an infant is not recognized in time, he may become severely dehydrated and lose consciousness.

general weakness, apathy.

Clothes that are too warm can also cause overheating in children over one year old. This is also facilitated by the increased activity of children, during which their body temperature rises, and clothing does not allow the heat to escape. In unventilated, warm rooms, the likelihood of overheating increases.

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

with a mild degree of overheating, children are characterized by increased physical activity, leading to a worsening of the condition;
Symptoms in children over one year of age
dizziness;
headache;
strong feeling of thirst;
increased body temperature;
skin redness;
dry lips;
sudden attacks of vomiting;
general weakness.

With mild heatstroke, the baby experiences weakness and a constant feeling of thirst, nausea and vomiting are possible. First aid when symptoms appear

At the first symptoms of heatstroke in a child, you should call a doctor. Before their arrival, parents must complete the following steps:

Move the child to a well-ventilated, cool room.
Place the baby on a horizontal surface.
If the child is fainting, you need to raise his legs, after placing a towel or some clothing under them. This position improves blood flow to the head.
If there is severe vomiting, you need to turn the baby's head to the side to ensure air flow 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. To restore the salt balance, it is better to give mineral water or saline solutions, such as Regidron, Trihydron, Reosalan - this will help prevent seizures.
Apply any cloth moistened with water to the back of your head and neck. You can also wipe the child’s body with it or gradually pour water at room temperature. You cannot bring a hot baby into a cold body of water.

If you have heatstroke, apply a cold compress to your child's forehead.

You need to apply something cold to your forehead, such as a bottle or bag. The newborn can be completely wrapped in a wet towel or sheet.
For proper breathing, it is necessary to ensure air flow using a fan or newspaper.
In case of fainting, you can give the baby a cotton swab soaked in a solution of ammonia to sniff, which can be found in any car first aid kit.
If a child suddenly stops breathing, if the medical team has not arrived yet, it is necessary to give him artificial respiration. To do this, tilt the baby's head slightly, cover the baby's nose with one hand, and hold the chin with the other. After taking a deep breath, release air into your mouth for a few seconds. When air enters the lungs, the chest should rise.

Heatstroke Treatment

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

How to help a baby?

The first task of parents in case of heatstroke in a baby is to lower body temperature. To do this, he must be completely undressed or unswaddled.

Then 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 cause a worsening of the condition;
wrap the newborn in a cold diaper, which needs to be changed every 8-10 minutes;
Place the child in a bath of water at room temperature for 5-7 minutes.

If the procedures are carried out at home, then it is necessary to have an air conditioner or fan running 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. For hyperthermia accompanied by vomiting, the dose of fluid is increased.

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

Treatment of children 2-3 years old

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

Treatment of heat stroke depends on its severity; sometimes doctors insist on hospitalization of the child

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

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

Therapy for children over 3 years of age

Children of preschool and school age have more stable thermoregulation, but despite this, they can also get heat stroke if they spend a long time in the sun or in a very hot room. In a hospital setting, therapy is carried out using the following medications:

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

Consequences of hyperthermia

In case of hyperthermia, assistance should be provided immediately. If treatment procedures are not carried out in the first hours after the pathology is detected, the child will experience severe complications:

Blood thickening. Occurs due to lack of fluid, leads to heart failure, thrombosis, and heart attack.
Severe form of renal 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. When there is an imbalance of electrolytes in the body, the blood supply to most internal organs is disrupted.

Heatstroke is especially dangerous for young children and older adults. They develop overheating and hypothermia much faster. However, not all parents know how to identify the problem. After reading this article, you will learn what the symptoms and treatment of heat stroke in a child are.

What it is?

The term “heatstroke” refers to a condition that is the result of excessive overheating of the entire body and the brain in particular. In this case, the body loses the ability to maintain its own normal temperature. The lack of adequate thermoregulation leads to a variety of disorders, many of which pose a serious danger to the child.

Hyperthermia (overheating) causes disruption of the functioning of organs and systems.

In childhood, the thermoregulation center, which is located in the brain, is not yet mature enough; it is difficult for the baby to cope with high temperatures. This age-related feature complicates his condition when overheated. If a child has chronic diseases or congenital pathologies, then heat stroke poses a mortal danger.

You should not assume that heatstroke refers only to sun damage that children can get from being exposed to the sun for too long. Heatstroke can also occur in cloudy weather, and not only on the street, but also under the roof - for example, in a bathhouse or sauna.

There are only two reasons why heat stroke develops:

exposure to high temperatures from outside;
inability to quickly adapt and compensate for excess overheating.

There are many factors that influence the likelihood of developing this condition.- the age of the child (the younger the baby, the more likely a stroke is), prior use of medications (antibiotics, immunostimulants or immunosuppressants, as well as hormonal agents), a tendency to allergies and even increased sensitivity to weather changes, which, by the way, is observed in most children.

The most detrimental effects of heat affect children with diabetes, heart and vascular diseases, including congenital malformations, children suffering from bronchial asthma, children with mental illness and diseases of the nervous system, very thin children and overweight toddlers, and also on children with hepatitis.

The most dangerous age for the development of severe heat stroke is 1-2-3 years.

Among the additional negative factors that in every possible way contribute to the occurrence of pathology are closed clothing that creates a greenhouse effect, increased air humidity, and dehydration in a child. Heatstroke is especially dangerous, which occurs when several unfavorable circumstances coincide - for example, in a small child whose parents took him on vacation to an exotic country, because. Complex biological processes of acclimatization are added to age. In combination with the heat, the effect will not take long to occur, and such a baby may well end up in intensive care.

Many parents still confuse sunstroke and heatstroke. Having provided the child with a Panama hat and a sun umbrella, they believe that he is reliably protected from overheating. Such a little one is indeed protected from sunstroke, but he can easily get heatstroke either in a hat or under an umbrella in the shade - if he stays in the heat for too long.

The thermoregulation center is located in the intermediate section of the brain. When overheated, a “failure” occurs in its functioning, and the body cannot effectively and quickly get rid of excess heat. Usually this physiological process occurs with sweating. In response to heat, the thermoregulation center sends a signal to the sweat glands of the skin, which begin to actively produce sweat. Sweat evaporates from the surface of the skin and cools the body.

When a child has a heat stroke, the signal from the brain about the need to produce sweat is delayed, not enough sweat is produced, and children's sweat ducts are narrow due to age, which also makes it difficult to sweat (in the right amount and at the right speed).

Now imagine that with all this, the child is dressed in synthetic clothing, which makes evaporation difficult, and does not consume enough fluid. Too humid air (for example, in the tropics or in a bathhouse) does not promote evaporation at all. Sweat is released and flows down in streams, but there is no relief, the body does not cool down.

Heatstroke may be caused by increased physical activity. in the heat - outdoor games on the beach, for example. Children with fair skin and blue eyes suffer the most from heatstroke. They overheat faster and release excess heat more slowly.

A critical temperature is considered to be a temperature above 30 degrees Celsius, for newborns - above 25 degrees Celsius.

Symptoms and signs

There are four clinical forms of heat stroke:

Asphyxial. All symptoms are associated with respiratory dysfunction, including the development of respiratory failure.
Hyperthermic. With this form, a high temperature is observed, the thermometer rises above 39.5-41.0 degrees.
Cerebral. With this form of heat stroke, various disturbances in the child’s nervous activity are observed - delirium, convulsions, tics, and so on.
Gastroenteric. Manifestations of this form are usually limited to gastrointestinal disorders - vomiting, diarrhea.

You can recognize the characteristic signs of general hyperthermia in a child by the following symptoms:

Redness of the skin. If, when exposed to the rays of the sun, the area of erythema is limited to the area of exposure, then with general heat stroke, the erythema is continuous - absolutely all the skin turns red.
Difficulty, rapid breathing, shortness of breath. Such signs develop with any type of general temperature damage. Frequent difficulty breathing in this case is the body’s attempts to cool itself through the lungs.
General weakness, apathy. The child looks tired, sleepy, he wants to lie down, and ceases to show interest in what is happening.

Nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are more characteristic of the gastroenteric form, but can also accompany other types of heat stroke.
Dizziness. It can be insignificant, or it can be expressed quite clearly, up to episodes of loss of balance.
Hallucinations. Visual hallucinations accompany almost all types of heatstroke. They usually manifest themselves in the subjective perception of non-existent points in front of the eyes, the so-called floaters. Young children may respond by waving their arms in an attempt to “drive them away.”
Rapid and weak pulse. It exceeds normal values by approximately one and a half times and is difficult to palpate.

Dry skin. The skin feels rougher, drier and hotter to the touch.
Cramps and muscle pain. Convulsions can affect only the limbs, or can spread to the entire body. More often, convulsive syndrome is in the nature of trembling of the arms and legs.
Sleep and appetite disturbances. Both parameters can be violated to a certain extent, which can lead to the child’s complete refusal of food, water and sleep.
Incontinence. The inability to control urination and bowel movements occurs only in severe heat stroke associated with loss of consciousness.

When symptoms characteristic of hyperthermia appear, parents should assess the severity of the condition.

In mild cases, the child's skin always remains moist. A complex of symptoms is observed: headache, fever, lethargy, nausea and shortness of breath, as well as increased heart rate. But there is no loss of consciousness, no neurological manifestations.

With moderate severity, the temperature is high, the baby moves little and reluctantly, and short-term episodes of loss of consciousness may occur. The headache increases, symptoms of intoxication appear - vomiting and diarrhea (or one or the other). The skin is red and hot.

In severe cases, the child becomes delirious, loses consciousness, experiences convulsions, speech may be confused, and there are hallucinations. The temperature is at 41.0, sometimes reaching 42.0 degrees. The skin is red, dry and very hot.

Heatstroke can be distinguished from sunstroke by a combination of clinical signs. After excessive exposure to the sun, only severe headache and nausea are observed, and the temperature rarely rises to 39.5 degrees.

Danger and consequences

Heat injury for a child is dangerous primarily due to dehydration. With extreme heat, fever and the manifestation of a gag reflex, it occurs very quickly. The younger the toddler, the faster he loses his moisture reserves. This is a deadly condition.

High heat associated with heatstroke can trigger febrile seizures and other neurological disorders in a child. Severe degrees of impact are the most dangerous, and the prognosis for them is rather dubious.

Mild degrees of heat stroke usually have no or minimal consequences. Moderate and severe cases can lead to the development of renal failure, respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, as well as long-term consequences, which are mainly expressed by serious neurological disorders. Sometimes they stay with the child for life.

Severe overheating of the brain can cause a wide range of disorders in all organs and systems.

First aid

If your child shows signs of heatstroke, you should call an ambulance as soon as possible. While doctors are on call, the parents’ task is to properly provide emergency care. The main direction is cooling the body. And the main thing here is not to overdo it.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

The child is placed in the shade and brought into a cool room, securely protected from sunlight. If the blow happened after the bath, they take it outside.
All tight and tight-fitting clothing is removed. They unbutton their pants and take off their belts.
The child should be placed on his back if there is no nausea, or on his side if there is nausea and vomiting. The baby's legs are slightly raised by placing a folded towel or any other object under them.
Cold compresses are applied to the forehead, back of the head, hands, and feet. Pieces of cloth and towels soaked in cold water will do. However, ice should never be used, as excessive cooling can cause vascular collapse.

Open all windows if the child is indoors to ensure there is no lack of fresh air.
While waiting for the doctor, you can pour cool water over your body (the temperature of the liquid is from 18 to 20 degrees, no less). If it is possible to fill the bathtub with water at this temperature, it is worth doing this and immersing the child in the water, leaving only the head above the surface of the water.
During attacks of loss of consciousness, the child is given ammonia to smell.

During convulsions, they do not hold the child’s body, do not straighten the cramped muscles, this is fraught with fractures. You cannot unclench your teeth and shove an iron spoon into the baby’s mouth - you can break the teeth, the fragments of which can get into the respiratory tract.
In all cases (except for loss of consciousness and convulsions), the child is given plenty of warm drinks. After fainting, they also give sweet, weak tea. Giving your child strong tea is prohibited, as this can negatively affect cardiac activity.
In the absence of breathing and heartbeat, emergency artificial respiration is performed and indirect cardiac massage is performed.
You should not give your child any medications until the medical team arrives. If there are convulsions and episodes of loss of consciousness, be sure to record the time of the beginning and end of the attacks in order to provide this information to the visiting doctor.

With mild heatstroke, the child will remain treated at home.

Moderate and severe conditions require hospitalization.

First medical aid, of course, will be provided on the spot. If necessary, the child will undergo a cardiac massage, perform artificial respiration, and administer medications to normalize cardiac activity. But the doctors at the children’s hospital will do the rest.

Typically, intensive rehydration therapy is carried out on the first day. A large amount of saline solutions with minerals necessary for the normal functioning of the heart and nervous system is infused intravenously. When the risk of dehydration subsides, the child is examined by all specialists, primarily a cardiologist, neurologist, and pediatrician. If pathologies caused by hyperthermia are detected, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.

High fever after heatstroke usually lasts for several days. During this time, the child is recommended to take paracetamol-based antipyretics.

Mild heat stroke should be treated at home taking into account the same requirements. Reduce the temperature, if it rises to high values, give the child oral rehydration solutions - Smecta, Regidron.

When the first signs of dehydration appear, you should not hesitate to hospitalize, since removing a child from such a state at home is not a task for the faint of heart. Trying to do this yourself can end very disastrously.

At home, the baby can be wrapped in a damp, cool diaper several times a day; for an older child, you can provide a cool bath or shower. A big mistake parents make is turning on fans or air conditioning while wet wrapping. Very often, such “treatment” ends in the development of pneumonia.

During home treatment, it is important to give the child as much fluid as possible; all food should be light and quickly digestible. You need to feed your child only when he asks for it. It is better to give preference to vegetable soups with lean broth, jelly, fruit drinks, cereals without butter, fruit and vegetable salads.

The diet should be followed until all symptoms disappear completely and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is normalized.

Prevention

Parents' prudence and their observance of simple safety rules will help protect a child from heat stroke:

If you are planning a vacation on the beach or long walks in the hot season, you should make sure that the child has clothes made from natural fabrics, in which the baby’s skin can “breathe” freely and evaporate sweat. It is best to wear light-colored clothing as it reflects sunlight and reduces the chance of overheating.
When on the beach, on a walk, or in the bathhouse, the child’s head should always be covered with a light-colored Panama hat or a special bathing cap.

You should not walk for a long time or sunbathe after 11 am and before 16 pm. Before and after this time, you can sunbathe and walk, but with restrictions. A child (especially a newborn or infant) should not be in the open sun, even during “safe” hours.
If the child is small, then it is better to avoid active beach activities (trampoline, banana ride, beach ball game).
Parents who do not see anything wrong with spending time together with their baby on the beach should remember that the baby should under no circumstances spend his afternoon nap there, even if he is lying under an umbrella in the shade. This increases the likelihood of heat stroke tenfold.
During the hot season, as well as when visiting a bathhouse or sauna, be sure to give your child plenty of fluids to drink. Carbonated drinks are not suitable for this purpose. It is better to use boiled and pre-cooled compote, fruit juice, and ordinary drinking water.

Never leave your child in a closed car in a parking lot near a store or other establishments during the hot season. At a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius, the car interior overheats within 15 minutes. At the same time, the temperature inside the cabin is significantly higher than the thermometer outside. Very often such stories end in the death of children.
Do not feed your baby tightly or generously in hot weather. Moreover, fatty foods should be avoided. It is better to give light fruits and vegetables and thin soups during the day.

It is better to postpone a substantial meal until the evening, when it becomes cool. You should not take your child out for a walk immediately after eating. If it’s hot outside, then you can go for a walk only an hour and a half after lunch or breakfast.

Dr. Komarovsky will talk about how to protect a child from heat stroke in the next video.

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

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

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

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

Late diagnosis always leads to an advanced condition and, consequently, to serious consequences that require serious treatment. That’s why every parent needs to know everything about overheating of the body and measures to prevent it.

What is heat and sunstroke?

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

Heatstroke can develop outside in hot weather, in a hotly heated room. This can also happen in conditions where the ambient temperature is not very high, if the child is wrapped up very warmly.

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

Young children are especially susceptible to this condition. In children, thermoregulation processes are still imperfect due to their age. They often develop heatstroke even at low ambient temperatures. Also in young children the disease progresses rapidly.

In infants, the diagnosis of overheating is complicated by the fact that children cannot complain or tell what is bothering them. And the symptoms of a child overheating are nonspecific. Lethargy, capricious behavior, tearfulness can be for various reasons. These symptoms may not always be 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. If only because they have different causes.

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

The cause of heat stroke is general overheating of the entire body due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Due to overheating, a breakdown occurs in the functioning of the thermoregulation center in the diencephalon. The body actively produces heat, but cannot give it away.

Heat loss normally occurs mainly through 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) to warm the inhaled air and expand the blood capillaries at the surface of the skin (the person blushes).

During hot weather, little heat is spent on warming the inhaled air. And two other thermoregulation mechanisms work. If we don’t interfere with them, of course...

What should I do to avoid interfering? It's simple! Firstly, parents should pay special attention to ensuring that the child has something to sweat with and that his clothes allow the sweat to evaporate.

There is one more nuance here. Liquid (in this case, sweat) evaporates if the surrounding air is drier than the layer of air directly next to the body, under clothing. When humidity is high, sweat flows in a stream, but does not evaporate. Simple laws of physics apply. Consequently, skin cooling does not occur.

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

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 complicate heat transfer and cooling of the body:

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

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

Now let's talk about sunstroke. It is a consequence of exposure to direct rays of the sun on a person’s head. That is, the cause of sunstroke can be expressed in a simple phrase: “My head is hot.”

The time for symptoms of sunstroke to appear varies. It happens that something wrong is felt immediately while being in the sun. But often the symptoms of sunstroke develop delayed, 6-9 hours after returning from a walk in direct sunlight.

Main signs of heat stroke

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

In mild cases, headache, dizziness, nausea, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and dilated pupils appear. The skin is moist.

Even with a mild form of heatstroke, you should definitely consult a doctor. If help was provided to the child on time, hospitalization is usually not necessary.

Moderate heat stroke is characterized by an increasing headache combined with nausea and vomiting. The skin is red. Temperature increases to 40°C are typical. Heart rate and respiratory rate increase.

The child has pronounced adynamia (reluctance to move). Confused consciousness occurs, a state of stupefaction occurs, and the baby’s movements are uncertain. Pre-syncope or brief loss of consciousness may occur.

A severe form is indicated by loss of consciousness, a coma-like state, and the appearance of convulsions. Psychomotor agitation, hallucinations, and confusion of speech may also develop.

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

Main symptoms of sunstroke

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

Often one of the first signs of a stroke is vomiting or diarrhea. Older children complain of ringing in the ears and flashing of flies. The baby's body temperature rises.

The skin is red, especially on the face and head. The pulse is frequent and weak, breathing is rapid. Increased sweating is observed. Nosebleeds often occur.

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

Doctors identify another concept when heat exchange is disrupted - 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 pre-heat stroke.

If heat exhaustion is not diagnosed in a timely manner or treated adequately, the process can progress and lead to disastrous consequences, sometimes even fatal.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke in comparison table:

Complexion	Pale	Red with bright blush
Leather	Wet, sticky	Dry, hot to the touch
Thirst	Pronounced	May already be missing
Sweating	Enhanced	Reduced
Consciousness	Possible fainting	Confused, possible loss of consciousness, disorientation
Headache	Characteristic	Characteristic
Body temperature	Normal or slightly elevated	High, sometimes 40°C and above
Breath	Normal	Rapid, superficial
Heartbeat	Rapid, weak pulse	Rapid, pulse is barely traceable
Convulsions	Rarely	Present

First aid for overheating

10 main rules for preventing thermal disorders

Parents should always remember about measures to prevent such conditions. Children are a risk group. They can experience heatstroke or sunstroke even with short exposure to the sun or in a stuffy, hot room.

It is better to prevent thermal disorders in children in advance.

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

In hot weather, poor ventilation and high humidity, there is a high risk of heat stroke. Due to the high air temperature, the human body quickly overheats, metabolism becomes much faster, and blood vessels swell, while capillary permeability increases significantly. Therefore, during heatstroke, a person’s well-being sharply worsens and a number of alarming symptoms appear. This is where the questions become especially relevant: how long does heat stroke last, and how can this condition be overcome?

Under what conditions is there a risk of heatstroke?

Heatstroke can affect not only those who spend time under the hot sun, but also drivers in their cars, workshop workers, athletes and other people of various occupations. Even sauna and bathhouse workers or an office employee whose air conditioner has broken down are at risk.

For heat stroke, 3 components are sufficient:

Heat.
High humidity.
Excessive heat production.

Muscle activity can also lead to heatstroke.

At first glance, heat stroke does not seem so serious and dangerous to a person’s health and life, but without timely help it can lead to vascular collapse, coma and even death. A person in a state of heat stroke needs outside help and prompt restoration of water-salt balance. And, if you suspect that a person close to you or even someone you don’t know has symptoms of heatstroke, then rush to offer him help.

The danger of heatstroke in children

Heat strokes are especially common in children, since, given their anatomical characteristics, increased heat production is often pathological.

This is due to the following features:

children's bodies are much smaller;
heat transfer and heat production are not stable;
the thermogenesis core is easily irritated;
compensatory mechanisms are unstable.

Heatstroke is much more severe than in an adult and can cause:

strong expansion of capillaries;
blood clots and arterial-venous shunts;
the occurrence of metabolic pathologies;
intoxication of the body;
hypoxia and other disorders.

All this is detrimental to a young body and can lead to the development of kidney, liver and heart disease.

Heat stroke symptoms and first aid

Heat stroke can be determined by the following symptoms:

dry mouth and thirst;
weakness and body aches;
severe headache;
difficulty breathing and stuffiness;
painful sensation behind the sternum;
constant aching pain in the lower extremities and back.

Also, during heat stroke, breathing and the frequency of myocardial contractions accelerate. Hypothermia causes the skin to become pink and show signs of irritation. After some time, blood pressure begins to decrease significantly and urination is impaired. Sometimes in children with heatstroke, the body temperature reaches 41 degrees, which has a very bad effect on health and is fraught with serious complications.

Symptoms that require urgent hospitalization:

the face looks swollen;
the skin has a cyanotic appearance;
breathing is difficult and intermittent;
the pupils are noticeably dilated;
alarming muscle cramps appeared;
fever;
diarrhea and gastroenteritis;
urination stops.

How long heat stroke lasts depends on many factors, but, first of all, on its degree. Thus, a mild degree of heat stroke is accompanied by redness of the skin and a temperature of up to 39, or even 41 degrees. This condition can last for 2-4 days spent on rest. If brain neurons are damaged as a result of heat stroke, then even long-term treatment with modern medications will not help to fully restore health.

There is a group of people who are especially at risk for heatstroke. It includes those who have an innate sensitivity to high temperature, as well as people who are overweight, suffer excessive stress and are in a state of psycho-emotional overstrain, have cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, neurological diseases, are intoxicated, smoke, wear in thick clothes, etc.

Most often, heat stroke manifests itself in the form of extreme thirst (a person cannot get drunk), weakness, muscle pain and a gradual acceleration of the pulse. If the disease progresses to a more severe form, then convulsions appear, involuntary bowel movements and urination occur. The condition may worsen and the patient will begin to vomit and bleed. Although children are more at risk from the sun than adults, they are able to heal on their own without the need for hospitalization due to their reactivity. Adults, on the contrary, suffer even a small heatstroke much more difficult and even with moderate severity they require immediate mandatory hospitalization.

If the first signs of an impact are detected, it is necessary to provide assistance to the victim and carry out the following procedures:

drink as much water as possible to stop dehydration;
loosen the collar and belt;
cool the skin;
remove synthetic clothing;

In most cases, it is simply enough to take the person into a cool room or shade, give him water and wet his skin with cool water so that he feels relief. If the symptoms indicate moderate or severe heat stroke, you should do the same, but also lay the victim down, elevate his legs and call an ambulance.

Medical care for heatstroke

Moderate or severe heatstroke requires qualified medical attention.

As a rule, the following drugs are used for treatment:

Antipyretics (paracetamol and ibuprofen);
Vasoconstrictors (Cavinton, Vinpocetine, Trental);
Painkillers (analgin and infulgan).

Antipyretic drugs are used only if the temperature exceeds 39 degrees. Basically, small doses of paracetamol are used; antipyretics in the form of suppositories are prescribed for children. In very severe cases, an infulgan is used intravenously. Antipyretics can shorten the course of the disease and normalize blood supply. If the patient does not recover, hydrocortisone and prednisolone are used in rare cases. These drugs must be administered very carefully, gradually increasing the dose and decreasing it when it is discontinued. Patients are also given cleansing enemas and recommended to take a cool shower every day to relieve overheating.

How to treat heatstroke at home

You can manage the symptoms of heatstroke at home using a number of methods:

apply cool compresses to the head to relieve headaches and reduce fever;
apply cold compresses to the great vessels and liver to reduce the temperature and prevent complications;
rinse the stomach;
do warm enemas;
wrap in a cool sheet or diaper.

Wrapping yourself in a cool cloth is one of the simplest and oldest ways to cope with heatstroke. In particular, children are often wrapped in swaddling clothes, since this can quickly lower body temperature, soothe and reduce the discomfort caused by heat stroke. You can also take a cool shower and stand under the water for as long as possible. For mild strokes, cool wraps and compresses are usually enough to provide relief. Several procedures and rest will allow you to quickly forget about heat stroke and return to a normal rhythm of life.

If all these actions do not bring results and there is no noticeable improvement in the condition, then medications are needed.

To avoid complications, it is worth using special preparations and mixtures in time in addition to physical methods. So, it is safest to prepare a lytic mixture (aminazine, dibazole and pipolfen are mixed in novocaine), which quite effectively combats the consequences of heat stroke.

For even greater results, you can use droperidol, and sodium hydroxybutyrate and seduxen will help with muscle cramps. You should not use antipyretics when the temperature has dropped to 37.5 and carry out active drug treatment unless there are compelling reasons for this. Particular care must be taken when handling children. Do not rush to apply therapeutic procedures and “bring down” the temperature. In case of heatstroke, it is important to prevent complications, and temperature is only one of the symptoms and is not the object of treatment.

When does heat stroke start and how long does it last?

It is difficult to determine the duration of heat stroke, since its first symptoms can always be noticed at the very beginning. Often, dry mouth, thirst, weakness and headache already indicate that you have suffered heatstroke. However, these symptoms may not be paid attention to, and only when arrhythmia appears, the temperature rises and other symptoms appear, it becomes clear that the problem is heat stroke. Then it can progress to a severe stage, and even cause damage to the nervous system.

Heat stroke and the fever that accompanies it have stages of development and decline:

Prodromal (often occurs almost unnoticeably);
Elevation (can be critical or lyrical);
Stability;
Reverse lysis.

At the beginning, heatstroke seems to warm up. The nervous system is in extremely high tone, but the peripheral arteries are not, at the same time the blood flow is “centralized.” Due to problems with peripheral microcirculation, the so-called “goose bumps” appear, accompanied by chills, trembling and a sharp feeling of cold. By not missing this moment and starting to act already at this stage, you can prevent unpleasant consequences and quickly overcome heat stroke. Symptoms at this stage manifest differently and with varying degrees of severity in different people. Some people clearly feel the changes, while others begin to understand that they received heatstroke only at the stage of rising fever.

The development of the disease is critical when the temperature rises to high levels very quickly (on average, in 40-45 minutes), but also quickly decreases if measures are taken and treatment is carried out. The lyrical course of the disease is much more dangerous and longer lasting. It is largely prolonged and may not be accompanied by a constantly high temperature, but it is accompanied by lethargy, drowsiness, a drop in blood pressure and an accelerated heart rate. It is important to rest throughout this period and not try to endure the disease on your feet, because serious complications are possible.

With rest and proper treatment, you can quickly move into the stability phase, when deterioration is no longer observed, and move into the reverse lysis stage. At this stage, you will feel a noticeable drop in temperature and an improvement in your well-being.

How to Avoid Heat Stroke

As already mentioned, there are people predisposed to heatstroke, but they can also avoid danger if they are careful. It is important to avoid dehydration, small stuffy rooms, not to stay in the sun for long periods of time and not to wear heavy, dense fabrics in hot weather. If you feel unwell, try to go to a place where there is shade and coolness, drink water, and wet your face and head with cold water.

Children must be carefully monitored, always wear a hat, give them water to drink, and not allow them to play in the sun for long periods of time. Even if you or your child is at risk, only care and caution will determine whether there is a real chance of getting heatstroke. It is very easy to avoid treatment and serious consequences; you just need to follow simple rules. If you were unable to protect yourself, then you should take all possible measures to ensure that the heatstroke lasts as little as possible and does not give you serious reasons for concern.

Heatstroke and sunstroke are often equated. And there is no big mistake in this. Heatstroke is a comprehensive clinical picture of acute general overheating of the body with the development of hyperthermia. And solar is overheating associated with the influence of direct sunlight. The latter occurs during the hot period of the year at high solstice: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. But heatstroke can occur at any time of the year and day. But the principles of providing first aid to children with sunstroke and heatstroke are almost the same.

What happens in a child’s body when overheated or exposed to direct sun? How dangerous is this? And what to do if a child develops symptoms of heat or sunstroke?

Thermal shock mechanism

With general overheating of the body, which can begin after an ambient temperature of 18°C, two main processes are activated: heat radiation and increased sweating.

The radiation of heat from the skin is ensured by dilated blood vessels. It will continue as long as the ambient temperature is below the temperature of the exposed skin surfaces (up to 33°C). At higher numbers or at high humidity, the radiation process becomes physically impossible.
Increased sweating is the first sign of heat stroke in a child. It promotes the evaporation of liquid from the surface of the skin, causing it to cool. When radiation is blocked, sweating remains the only compensatory mechanism to which the lungs come to the rescue. Hyperventilation contributes, albeit slightly, to evaporation from the mucous membranes of the respiratory system. In children under 3 months, the sweat apparatus is underdeveloped, so they can only save themselves by rapid breathing.

Such compensation cannot last long and a decompensation phase begins: the vessels dilate, blood pressure drops, body temperature rises, and collapse may occur (blood distribution in the lower sections and flow away from the head). This is accompanied by excitation and then depression of the central nervous system.

Mechanism of sunstroke

In contrast to thermal disturbances from the central nervous system, these are the initial signs of sunstroke in a child. They are associated with a sharp dilation of blood vessels, their congestion, increased permeability and the development of edema of the meninges under the influence of solar heat. Hyperthermia during sunstroke is of central origin and is caused by excitation of the thermoregulation center.

An increase in temperature stimulates the metabolism, which increases the heating of the body(a vicious circle develops). Naturally, there is also a general overheating of the body with all the listed reactions.

In both cases, sweating also plays a negative role: it leads to loss of fluid and microelements. As a result, the blood thickens, its viscosity increases, and this increases the load on the heart.

outside in the summer heat;

The cause is anything that can lead to general overheating of the child’s body:

inadequate heating of the living space;
wrapping up and dressing the child warmly out of season;
synthetic airtight clothing for children;

prolonged exposure to hot water while swimming;
visiting the steam room inappropriate for children;
hot weather.

Causes of sunstroke

The effect of direct sunlight on a child's uncovered head. This also includes the surrounding heat.

Risk group

Heat and sun don't affect everyone the same. Some children are most susceptible to the negative influence of these factors.

Symptoms

The similarity of the symptoms of heatstroke and sunstroke in a child allows us to combine them into one column. Just remember that sunstroke in a child is primarily manifested by symptoms of irritation of the membranes of the brain.

Symptoms

Emergency actions

The principles of providing emergency care for overheating and sunstroke are practically the same. It all starts with calling an ambulance, regardless of the child’s subjective condition. Only a doctor after a physical examination will determine the severity of the changes that have occurred.

If a child has a heatstroke, first aid is to gradually cool the body. This includes placing it in a cool room, and applying towels soaked in cool water to the forehead, legs and armpits. You can keep your baby cool by using a cool shower, fan, or fanning. It is imperative to rid your baby of excess clothing. In a collaptoid state, it is necessary to lay him on a flat surface and raise his legs (on a pillow, bolster). What else should you do if your child has heatstroke? Eliminate dehydration! For this purpose, clean cool water, tea, rosehip or dried fruit decoctions are used. Diluted freshly squeezed juices and fruit drinks are allowed. The child must be given water constantly, several sips at a time.
First aid for sunstroke in children is similar: it is necessary to cool the body and give plenty of fluids. Moreover, a cool compress on the forehead is a mandatory procedure. To reduce the congestion of the brain, in contrast to simple overheating, place a pillow or cushion under the head, and do not raise the legs. In case of nausea and vomiting, the child is turned on his left side to avoid aspiration of vomit. But the first thing to do in case of sunstroke is to take (carry) the child to the shade!

Medication assistance

The emergency doctor prescribes medications to support the child’s body, but, having determined the child’s condition as serious, he refers him to hospitalization.

For mild cases If a child suffers from heat or sunstroke, the measures you have taken correctly will be sufficient and no special treatment will be required.
For moderate severity symptomatic therapy is carried out: lowering body temperature, normalizing breathing and heartbeat, correcting hemodynamics. Therapy is prescribed by a local doctor or carried out in a day hospital.
In case of severe sun or heatstroke in a child treatment is carried out in the intensive care unit, where pseudomeningeal symptoms are eliminated, parenteral correction of water-salt balance is carried out, and in case of coma, cerebral edema is removed.

Prevention of sun and heat stroke in children

It is easier to protect a child than to give him first aid with shaking hands. And the principles of prevention are quite simple and accessible to everyone.

Don't overheat your baby: buy natural clothes, dress according to the weather, make him wear a Panama hat or a cap when it’s hot, or even better, let him play in the shade.
Try to calm down your child's excessive activity in hot weather, ensure he is adequately hydrated. Although the drinking regime must always be observed.
Try not to appear outside with your child during the high solstice.
If you are at a resort, get an umbrella and sunbathe wisely: The child’s first exposure to the sun should last no more than 5 minutes, and subsequently – up to 10 minutes. You must leave the beach at noon.
In hot weather, feed your child light, non-aggressive foods, does not absorb water from fabrics.
Don't overheat the house comfort temperature – 18°C. Monitor humidity and regular ventilation of living rooms.
Do not try to accustom a small child to such a “useful procedure” as a bath. We adults contain 70% water, and children contain up to 80%. In a steam room, they are guaranteed to overheat.
Do not bring your child to a state in which he cannot bear the load normally., including thermal ones: to obesity, exhaustion, vitamin deficiency.
Do not take a sick or recovering child into the sun.

Asymptomatic diagnosis - video

For proper differentiation, we offer 2 videos.
Sunstroke: how it manifests itself and whether it is effective to treat hyperthermia in a child with antipyretic drugs.

Heat stroke: differences and characteristic symptoms.

For heatstroke and sunstroke in a child, the symptoms and treatment are almost the same, but parents do not need to differentiate these conditions from each other. After all, first aid is also provided according to the same principles. The main thing is to know these principles. Have you ever acted as a beach pediatric resuscitator? Or maybe your children don't react well to heat or sun? Have you figured out what the reason is? Tell us about it in the comments.

With the onset of summer, many people spend a lot of time outdoors, so parents need to know the main symptoms of heatstroke in a child. If your baby's health suddenly deteriorates and he becomes lethargic, it means he has overheated and needs urgent help. Prolonged overheating of the body should not be allowed. Children have unstable thermoregulation systems, so even slight overheating can contribute to cerebral edema - this is a life-threatening condition. Against the background of hyperthermia, dehydration, loss of electrolytes, and water-salt imbalance occur. With the long-term existence of such pathophysiological disorders, death is likely to occur.

Let's look at the causes and symptoms of heatstroke in infants, children aged 1 to 5 years and older, how to provide first aid to a child, and what treatment is most effective in the early stages for rapid recovery of the body.

Heat stroke in children

Heatstroke is the body’s reaction to hot weather and high temperature conditions in the apartment with high air humidity. It does not appear immediately, but after some time. Parents are required to know the main signs and methods of treating this harmful phenomenon in order to provide the baby with the necessary first aid if necessary.

This phenomenon is observed when the child’s body is significantly overheated and there is a lack of fluid. Infants cannot express their desire to drink water; they are often dressed in clothes that are too warm. In older children, a heat attack can occur due to any unforeseen factors. As a result, a pathological condition arises that harms the entire body.

Kinds

Among children, heatstroke is classified as follows:

Hyperthermia (fever or temperature up to 41 degrees, which lasts for several days).
Asphyxial form. The child’s breathing is disrupted, and inhibition of central nervous system functions begins.
Gastroenteric form. The child has vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea.
Cerebral overheating. The patient begins to experience convulsions, dizziness, fainting and confusion.

In any case of heat stroke, it is imperative to consult a doctor!

The first signs in a child

Heatstroke in a child - characteristic symptoms and treatment of the pathology require taking the problem seriously. To avoid complications and deterioration in the health of the little victim, you need to familiarize yourself with the signs of overheating in advance. They are divided into three groups. Early signs of disruption of normal thermoregulation:

dry mouth;
feeling of thirst;
sticky saliva;
decreased urination, yellowish discharge from the urethra.

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

Heat stroke degree	symptoms in children 🤕
1	In mild cases, headache, dizziness, nausea, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and dilated pupils appear. The skin is moist. Even with a mild form of heatstroke, you should definitely consult a doctor. If help was provided to the child on time, hospitalization is usually not necessary.
2	Moderate heat stroke is characterized by an increasing headache combined with nausea and vomiting. The skin is red. Temperature increases to 40°C are typical. Heart rate and respiratory rate increase. The child has pronounced adynamia (reluctance to move). Occurs: confusion, state of stupefaction, The baby's movements are uncertain. Pre-syncope or brief loss of consciousness may occur.
3	A severe form is indicated by loss of consciousness, a coma-like state, and the appearance of convulsions. Psychomotor agitation, hallucinations, and confusion of speech may also develop. On examination, the skin is dry and hot. The temperature reaches 42°C, the pulse is weak and frequent (up to 120-130 beats per minute). Breathing is frequent, shallow, intermittent. A short-term cessation of breathing is possible. Heart sounds are muffled.

How long does the temperature last during heatstroke? ⏳

As a rule, an elevated temperature in a child due to overheating lasts from one to three days. Each body experiences the disease individually. It is customary to lower the temperature if it rises to 38-38.5 degrees. If the temperature continues to persist within three days after the start of treatment for overheating, it is better not to make treatment decisions on your own; you should consult a doctor.

How long does it last? On average, heatstroke lasts 2-4 days

Causes

Thermal or occur in most cases due to overheating of the body. To prevent such a situation, the famous doctor Komarovsky advises following two simple rules:

always have liquid with you to quench your child’s thirst;
choose clothes for your child from breathable fabrics that allow sweat to pass through and are loose against the skin.

The following factors can interfere with heat transfer, and therefore lead to heatstroke in a child:

Heat transfer may be impaired due to pathology of the central nervous system. In infants, this is caused by physiological immaturity of thermoregulation.

Doctors have identified the following patterns in the body’s behavior when overheated:

muscle pain increases with rising temperature;
seizures occur in 4% of children;
For children with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, heat stroke is dangerous due to the formation of paralysis;
Internal inflammatory diseases at elevated temperatures become acute.

🔥 Heat and sunstroke are especially dangerous for newborns. Mothers often equate a baby's crying with tummy problems or teething problems, ignoring possible signs of a serious problem.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke in Children

Heatstroke does not strike a child suddenly. The pathological condition is preceded by the following symptoms:

general fatigue;
loss of appetite;
capriciousness. Children may experience tantrums for no reason;
very severe redness of the skin;
increased thirst;
increased heart rate;
sudden attacks of vomiting;
headache.

Such signs appear at the stage of heat exhaustion, a mild form of heat stroke. Symptoms of heatstroke itself occur 6–8 hours after the body overheats.

Heat stroke is most often accompanied by the following symptoms:

symptoms of intoxication: severe nausea, vomiting, loose stools;
stopping sweating. The baby's skin becomes very dry and hot;
pale or blue discoloration of the skin;
low blood pressure;
difficulty breathing;
sharp headaches;
very high body temperature (40 degrees or more). At the same time, the temperature rises rapidly and can reach dangerous values within half an hour.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke in Comparison Chart

Symptoms in a child	Heat exhaustion	Heatstroke
Complexion	Pale	Red with bright blush
Leather	Wet, sticky	Dry, hot to the touch
Thirst	Pronounced	May already be missing
Sweating	Enhanced	Reduced
Consciousness	Possible fainting	Confused, possible loss of consciousness, disorientation
Headache	Characteristic	Characteristic
Body temperature	Normal or slightly elevated	High, sometimes 40°C and above
Breath	Normal	Rapid, superficial
Heartbeat	Rapid, weak pulse	Rapid, pulse is barely traceable
Convulsions	Rarely	Present

How does it manifest in infants and newborns?

For a newborn, overheating is a particularly serious problem. An increase in temperature, loss of fluid and nutrients pose a serious danger to the health and life of the baby. It is not difficult to recognize the symptoms of heat exchange disorders in infants; under the age of one year, a very pronounced clinical picture is not observed. The main signs of overheating in newborns are the following:

severe redness of the skin on the face, which may give way to pallor;
a significant increase in temperature to 38-40 degrees;
overheating in an infant causes moodiness, lethargy, and anxiety;
cold sweat, belching and frequent yawning appear;
stool becomes liquid;
Sometimes muscle cramps are observed in the limbs and face.

In children older than one year

Children 1 year and older have similar main signs of heatstroke:

lethargy, weakness;
possible fainting;
strong feeling of thirst;
nausea and vomiting;
rapid pulse, faintly palpable;
ringing in the ears and darkening of the eyes;
cracked lips from dehydration;
bleeding from the nose.

In childhood, the disease is dangerous due to the occurrence of a critical condition that can lead to death. It is urgent to call an ambulance and take the baby to the hospital. In addition, it comes on suddenly, so it is important to notice overheating in the early stages.

What is the danger? 🔥

Most often, infants and children under one year of age react to heat stroke with vomiting and diarrhea, and an increase in temperature. If first aid is not provided, the condition may become critical:

body temperature rises to 41 °C;
breathing slows down or disappears completely.

In particularly difficult cases, delirium, loss of consciousness, convulsions are observed, and the person may fall into a coma. The longer the body is overheated, the higher the risk of death. If discomfort occurs during physical activity, this can provoke the development of various complications.

What to do in case of heatstroke in children, first aid

When a child overheats, it is very important to immediately provide first aid. If the victim has a slight overheating of the body, then timely measures will help to quickly return to normal. It is better to call an ambulance, whose workers will be able to provide qualified medical care to the baby. Before the team of specialists arrives, the victim needs to be helped independently (as described below).

If necessary, doctors will treat the patient based on existing symptoms.

When the victim begins to experience muscle cramps, special anticonvulsant measures are taken.
If blood pressure drops, measures are taken to restore and stabilize it.
To restore normal cardiac activity, a water-salt solution is infused intravenously and cordiamine injections are given.
In severe cases of heatstroke, it is customary to treat the patient in a hospital. Emergency hospitalization and resuscitation measures are expected.

Providing first aid to a child with heatstroke

Remember that at the first signs of heatstroke you should pay maximum attention to your baby, and if the condition worsens, consult a doctor.

It is better to place the child in a cool room, using compresses, and provide plenty of fluids. The room where the child lies must be sufficiently ventilated so as not to limit the baby’s ability to breathe normally.
If you have an elevated temperature caused by heatstroke, it is better to refrain from using antipyretic drugs. They will not have a direct effect, but can only worsen the child’s condition. You should cool the body from the outside - through compresses.
In case of a short-term loss of consciousness, which is the second, more serious, stage of heat stroke, first of all, it is necessary to get the child out of this state as quickly as possible. To do this, first apply ammonia in a small amount to a cotton pad or cotton wool so as not to burn the nasal mucosa. Then you must call an ambulance or see a doctor yourself.

In future, to avoid repetition In such situations, take the issue of the weather and the child’s clothing more seriously during hot periods. Don't wrap your baby up.

Use a hat as protection from overheating in the sun. Give your child more fluids, especially during the hot season. Do not leave your baby alone under direct sunlight.

What not to do? ⛔

What not to do when providing first aid:

use antipyretic drugs. They are ineffective against heat stroke. The temperature will drop to normal values as soon as overheating of the body is eliminated;
Give your child sweet soda, coffee, and strong black tea to drink. These products increase the load on the kidneys, heart and other organs;
try to revive a fainting child using ammonia. Ammonia can be used at the stage of precursors of fainting. A child who has fainted will not be able to recoil from the caustic vapors of the drug, which means that an excess amount of medication may enter the respiratory tract. This can provoke a chemical burn of the mucous membrane, a reflex spasm of the airways and respiratory arrest.

Diagnostics

The presence of obvious symptoms already makes it possible to make a diagnosis, but in medical institutions it is imperative to differentiate with such diseases as: delirium tremens, hepatic and uremic encephalopathy, hyperthyroidism, meningitis, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, tetanus, cocaine poisoning, which have similar symptoms and signs.

Tests include:

blood test - how much sodium, potassium and gases are in the blood to assess how much damage has been caused to the central nervous system;
urine test - check the color of urine; as a rule, it darkens when the kidneys are overheated, which may be affected by heat stroke;
checking muscle tissue damage and other internal organ tests.

Treatment of a child after heatstroke

While waiting for medical attention, begin to treat and treat your child yourself, following a simple strategy to cool your baby's body. The main thing is to do everything quickly:

move the child to a cooler place or shade;
remove excess clothing;
Provide plenty of fluids, give cool liquids containing salt and sugar;
For a child under one year old, you can give breast milk, formula or baby food.

After providing first aid, it is mandatory to call an ambulance, regardless of the severity of the disease. After arriving at the patient, the pediatrician should leave a number of recommendations to the parents:

Rubbing is carried out only when the temperature rises above 41 degrees;
Febrile seizures are treated only with medications;
Rubbing is carried out only with warm water;
Cold water causes discomfort and crying;
The antipyretic drug Ibuprofen is prescribed only after an increase in the temperature curve;
Rubbing should be done with lukewarm water, but not with alcohol. Water causes crying and can aggravate a cold, so it should be used with caution. The procedure is canceled in case of chills, convulsions, paralysis of the limbs;
To increase the effectiveness of the procedure, an antipyretic drug should be given 30 minutes before its use;
In case of heat stroke, wiping with water should be carried out immediately;
A febrile child should be given plenty to drink;
Evaporation of liquid from the surface of the skin increases heat generation. To activate it, you need to expand the skin pores by applying cool compresses to places of intense blood supply (head, chest, back);
Aspirin should not be given to children to prevent Reye's syndrome;
The use of Acetaminophen is permitted only when the temperature in the armpit is above 39 degrees Celsius;
The first line drug is Ibuprofen. Its effectiveness is longer than that of Paracetamol, but the effect occurs gradually. It would be more optimal to use drugs based on these ingredients (Ibuklin).

Treatment of children 2-3 years old

For hyperthermia in a 2-3 year old child, treatment is carried out in a similar way. Emergency 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. The drug therapy regimen for children under 4 years of age is as follows:

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

How to treat children over 3-5 years old?

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

Prevention methods 🌞

It is easier to protect a child than to give him first aid with shaking hands. And the principles of prevention are quite simple and accessible to everyone.

Don’t overheat your children: buy natural clothes, dress according to the weather, make them wear a Panama hat or a cap when it’s hot, and even better, let them play in the shade.
Try to calm down your child's excessive activity in hot weather and provide him with adequate fluids. Although the drinking regime must always be observed.
Try not to appear outside with your child during the high solstice.
If you are at a resort, get an umbrella and sunbathe wisely: your child’s first exposure to the sun should last no more than 5 minutes, then up to 10 minutes. You must leave the beach at noon.
In hot weather, feed your child light, non-aggressive foods that do not absorb water from tissues.
Monitor humidity and regular ventilation of living rooms.
Do not try to accustom a small child to such a “useful procedure” as a bath. We adults contain 70% water, and children contain up to 80%. In a steam room, they are guaranteed to overheat.
Do not bring your child to a state in which he cannot normally withstand stress, including heat stress: to obesity, exhaustion, vitamin deficiency.
Do not take a sick or recovering child into the sun.

Particular attention should be paid to the conditions in which newborns and children under one year are located, in order to avoid overheating:

The crib should not be located near a radiator or stove.
You should not overly wrap and dress your child.
The room should be regularly ventilated.
During the hot season, it is worth using air conditioning. The fact that it is harmful for children is a myth; if you install it directly above the crib and turn it on during sleep, cold air flows will not have any harmful effects on the baby. It’s worse if a small child experiences discomfort all the time, he develops prickly heat and the temperature rises.

Parents need to remember that you need to protect your child not only from cold, but also from excessive heat, otherwise heat stroke cannot be avoided.

Dr. Komarovsky believes that there is nothing wrong with heat stroke. The most important thing is to know what it is and how to properly provide assistance when receiving it. It is very easy to disrupt a child’s heat transfer capabilities. To avoid heat stroke, you need to follow these basic rules:

must not be allowed lack of fluid in the body,
in hot weather, you should choose loose clothing and protect your head from the sun's rays,
no need to force him to eat (minimum fat, maximum vegetables and fruits in the diet),
It is undesirable to drink hot drinks;
limit the time the child spends in places where it is hot and stuffy,
sunbathe from 10.00 to 16.00 – dangerous for baby's health,
monitor his activity;
use conditioner if necessary.

With the onset of summer, many people spend a lot of time outdoors, so parents need to know the main symptoms of heatstroke in a child. If your baby’s health suddenly deteriorates and he becomes lethargic, it means he has overheated and needs urgent help.

This disease is a painful condition that is caused by prolonged exposure to hot environmental conditions. It occurs at any time of the year, but most often in the summer. The situation is aggravated by the presence of warm or multi-layered clothing, synthetic fabrics, high humidity, abundant food, and physical activity.

There is a concept of sunstroke - it occurs when a person does not wear a hat in sunny weather. Symptoms and prevention are similar. Sunstroke is a form of heat. However, there are differences.

These diseases occur for various reasons. Parents need to know what happens in the body when overheated so that they can provide first aid to their child if symptoms of heat stroke occur.

First aid for heatstroke and sunstroke is the same.

Development mechanism

The human body adapts to different environmental weather conditions and maintains its constant temperature. If the air gets very hot, the body begins to actively sweat - this is how the heat transfers to the environment. The hotter it is outside and the higher the humidity, the more a person sweats. In particularly hot weather, up to 1 liter of liquid comes out with sweat in 1 hour.

Most often, infants, children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases suffer from overheating. At the same time, heat generation processes intensify, and heat transfer processes decrease. Heat is retained in the body and does not escape outside.

If a person is hot, he begins to sweat - this is how the heat transfers to the environment. In particularly hot weather, the body can lose up to 1 liter of fluid in 1 hour of sweating.

When overheated, blood vessels constrict, heat does not go to the skin, but remains inside. When dehydrated, the blood becomes thick and blood circulation in the internal organs is impaired. Blood flows to the skin (the face turns red), but there is not enough blood in the organs (weakness appears).

A person develops a fever, intoxication of the body, heart failure occurs, which can even lead to respiratory arrest and death.

Normally, thermoregulation occurs at 37 °C (± 1.5 °C). When climate conditions change, the heat transfer process changes. In this case, the following consequences are possible:

At the compensation stage, the human body fights overheating.
Compensatory reactions disrupt thermoregulation.
If the symptoms are not eliminated in the previous stages, fever appears.
The stage of decompensation begins.
Acidosis (a form of acid-base imbalance) occurs in the last stage of overheating.

Thus, when overheated, processes occur in the body that can lead to irreversible consequences.

Causes

There are two forms of overheating:

overheating during physical activity (in young people, athletes, those who work in a stuffy room);
classic heatstroke caused by elevated air temperatures.

Not drinking enough fluids in hot weather can lead to heatstroke

The following reasons contribute to overheating:

prolonged exposure to the street in hot weather;
change in climatic conditions;
wearing multi-layer or synthetic clothing in hot weather;
hormonal disorders;
weather sensitivity;
heart disease (including previous heart attack or stroke);
overweight;
the use of diuretic medications (read about);
insufficient fluid intake;
use of alcohol or drugs.

If prompt assistance is not provided, the person may be seriously harmed.

Symptoms

In order to provide first aid to the victim in a timely manner, you need to be able to recognize the symptoms of heat stroke in a child and an adult.

In the next video, Dr. Komarovsky will tell you what heat stroke is and how to avoid it.

In infants

Heatstroke in children under one year of age is manifested by the following symptoms:

the complexion changes: first the skin turns red, then turns pale;
the temperature rises sharply to 38-40 °C;
behavior changes: at first the baby is in an excited state, after which he becomes lethargic and yawns; this happens because the body loses fluid and cannot cool itself;
cold sweat appears;
the functioning of the digestive system is disrupted: nausea, belching and frequent bowel movements;
cramps of the face, arms and legs may appear (in this article you will learn about first aid).

The baby may be capricious and cry for a long time, he does not understand what is happening to him, he feels bad.

In children older than one year

With heatstroke, children become lethargic and have a fever

Children 1 year and older have similar main signs of heatstroke:

lethargy, weakness;
possible fainting;
strong feeling of thirst;
nausea and vomiting (click here to find out how to stop your child from vomiting);
rapid pulse, faintly palpable;
ringing in the ears and darkening of the eyes;
cracked lips from dehydration;
bleeding from the nose.

In childhood, the disease is dangerous due to the occurrence of a critical condition, which can be fatal. It is urgent to call an ambulance and take the baby to the hospital. In addition, it comes on suddenly, so it is important to notice overheating in the early stages.

In adults

The main symptoms of heatstroke include headache, lethargy and fever

In adults, signs of heatstroke include:

lethargy, drowsiness, weakness (you want to lie down or lean on your elbows, the person cannot stand on their feet);
headache and dizziness;
facial redness;
temperature increase up to 40 °C;
intestinal disorders (vomiting, diarrhea).

After this, the person falls into a delusional state, hallucinations occur, and the patient loses consciousness. The complexion turns from red to white (bluish), and profuse sweating occurs. Further, the functioning of the cardiovascular system is disrupted (the pulse quickens, but is faintly audible). This condition can be fatal.

Severity

There are three degrees of severity, depending on which treatment is prescribed.
1
A mild degree is manifested by headaches, nausea, dilated pupils, weakness and lethargy, rapid pulse and breathing. Red face, profuse sweating, possible nosebleeds.
2
Moderate severity is characterized by severe weakness and passivity: the child is lethargic, lies down all the time, is bothered by the urge to vomit, and may lose consciousness. Fever appears (up to 40 °C), tachycardia occurs, breathing is frequent and difficult.
3
Severe degree is considered the most dangerous. Convulsions are possible, the person “burns” (temperature up to 41 °C). A state of delirium, fainting occurs, blood circulation and breathing are impaired.

In medical sources you can find a division of the disease into 4 types:

asphyxia – respiratory failure, fever up to 38 °C;
hypothermia – fever, heat (39-41 °C);
cerebral form - mental disorders and neurological phenomena occur (convulsions, delirium, hallucinations);
gasroenteric form - disturbance of the digestive system (vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, abnormal stool).

Most often, there is not one form of heat stroke, but several at once.

In case of heatstroke, it is necessary to prevent dehydration. It manifests itself in thirst, dry mouth, and cracked lips. It is also important to identify the signs of heat and sunstroke.

Over time, irreversible processes occur in the body, which subsequently damage the central nervous system, which can lead to disability or even death.

At the first suspicion of overheating, parents should call a doctor and provide first aid.

First, the victim must be moved to a cool place

It is important to know what to do in case of heatstroke:

Move the victim to a shade or cool room.
Remove outer clothing (from the baby - diaper).
Place a cold compress on the head and wipe the body with cool water (adults can be wiped with alcohol or vodka). This will help cool you down.
Give cool water to drink often, but little by little. If you faint, you should not give anything to drink, as water may enter your inhalation tract! It is better to drink clean, non-carbonated drinking water.
If vomiting begins, the person must be placed on his side, his head raised and tilted.

You also need to know what not to do if you have heat stroke:

Give antipyretic drugs.
Provide alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
Quickly cool the victim (for example, immerse in cold water).

If you take these actions on time, you can avoid disastrous consequences. For mild cases, first aid is usually sufficient to restore the body. If it doesn’t get better, call a doctor immediately, he will prescribe treatment for heatstroke.

Consequences

Most often g miners and children under one year of age react to heatstroke with vomiting and diarrhea, fever. If first aid is not provided, the condition may become critical:

body temperature rises to 41 °C;
breathing slows down or disappears completely.

In particularly difficult cases, delirium, loss of consciousness, convulsions are observed, and the person may fall into a coma. The longer the body is overheated, the higher the risk of death.

If discomfort occurs during physical activity, this can provoke the development of various complications.

Prevention

To avoid the consequences of hot weather, it is necessary to follow a number of preventive measures:

In hot weather, walk with children under one year old in the shade of trees. The best time for walking is before 11 o'clock in the morning and after sunset in the evening. The most dangerous period is considered to be from 12.00 to 16.00. At this time, you need to stay at home, in a cool, well-ventilated area.
Choose clothes for your baby made from cotton or linen (avoid synthetic fabrics). The child must wear a hat. It is better to buy clothes in light colors. You can wear sunglasses over your eyes.
Take water with you on your walk. You need to drink twice as much as usual. Feeding outside is not recommended.
Add more vegetables and fruits to your diet (as they contain water) and reduce the amount of fatty foods. You should not go for a walk immediately after eating.
If the baby is taken to a resort, then it is necessary to alternate swimming and playing on the shore. You can't let him fall asleep in the sun.
Wipe your baby's face with a damp handkerchief or wash with cool water more often.
Adults are not recommended to drink a lot of coffee and alcohol in hot weather.. It is better to quench your thirst with cool still mineral water.

Watch the following video to learn about prevention and first aid for heatstroke.

Conclusion

Heatstroke can cause serious health damage. To avoid unwanted consequences, precautions must be taken. If overheating cannot be avoided, it is necessary to promptly identify the symptoms of heatstroke in a child and provide first aid.