Citation

Sterner S. Postgrad. Med. 1990; 87(8): 67-70, 73.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis.

Comment In:

Postgrad Med 1990;88(7):20.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Vendome Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2345717

Abstract

Heat illness varies in severity from mild to life-threatening. Basic treatment includes rapid cooling and restoration of fluid and electrolyte balance. Most patients can be treated definitively in the field. Some require additional therapy in a hospital emergency department, and a few need hospitalization. Not all hyperthermic patients have heatstroke. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a possibility, or a patient with a febrile illness may also present on a hot day. Careful evaluation is therefore necessary before the diagnosis of simple heatstroke is considered acceptable.

Language: en