Hyperthermia is defined as a body temperature greater than 40°C and consists of a spectrum of conditions that range from mild (heat oedema, heat rash) to life-threatening (heat stroke)
Aetiology
Risk factors
Elderly
Being dehydrated
Age-related changes to the skin such as impaired blood circulation and inefficient sweat glands
Heart, lung and kidney diseases, as well as any illness that causes general weakness or fever
High blood pressure or other conditions that require changes in diet (e.g. salt-restricted diet)
Reduced sweating, caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and certain heart and blood pressure drugs.
Taking several drugs for various conditions
Being substantially overweight or underweight
Drinking alcoholic beverages
Traumatic brain injured patients
Exercise overdose
Levels of heat illness
1. Heat oedema and heat rash
Heat oedema and heat rash are both the mildest sorts of heat illness
Heat oedema may occur as the body tries to dissipate heat by vasodilation and a shift of blood flow to the skin
This mostly happens in the lower extremities as fluid creates inflammation in the feet and ankles
Heat rash (also known as prickly heat or miliaria Rubra) is a pinpoint red rash that forms on the skin that was covered by clothing
This generally occurs in areas that have a higher concentration of heat glands, such as the trunk and groin, and is caused by the rise in sweat saturating the clothing and skin surface clogging sweat ducts