2024, Number 9
Med Int Mex 2024; 40 (9)
Heat stroke, a forgotten disease at Emergency service?
Zamudio DO, Saucedo SLX, González MKI
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 11
Page: 638-644
PDF size: 669.69 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Background: Heat stroke is the result of the imbalance between the metabolic production of heat and physiological measures to guarantee its elimination. It is characterized by a failure in thermoregulatory mechanisms, manifesting as hyperthermia and altered neurological status after exposure to high ambient temperatures. The highest average temperatures in Mexico occur in the months of July and August, for 30 years each decade has been warmer due to the release of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. In 2012 the nominal registry of damages to health was implemented in Mexico, where an increase in the reporting of cases of heat stroke has been noted.Clinical case: An 81-year-old male patient who was admitted to the Emergency department with a diagnosis of heat stroke, secondary to exposure to high ambient temperatures for more than 2 hours, triggering hyperthermia, neurological deterioration, and supraventricular tachycardia.
Conclusions: Prolonged exposure to high temperatures impairs the thermoregulatory response, so the history of exposure is important for clinical suspicion and timely initiation of treatment.
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