Heatstroke: imminent pathology in emergency services

Abstract

Heatstroke is a disease that has a low incidence, but recently has been trending upwards due to global warming and climate change. It can also present with a high morbimortality for patients, presenting a clinical problem that begs for a good understanding of the disease. This high morbimortality is highly time-dependent, which implies a need for an updated and thorough review of this disease, to guarantee an optimal management for any patient that presents with heatstroke in any of its variants. This is a disease that can affect any age group, and population, but we must not lose sight of the fact that it can disproportionately affect people in vulnerable groups determined by socioeconomic and geographic factors, which can cause a higher incidence and worse outcomes. Even when the etiology of the heatstroke is different in its exertional or classic forms, they share a common pathway which culminates in irreversible damage to the central nervous system, multisystemic failure and even death if not treated in a timely and appropriate manner. Knowing this it is easy to understand the need to keep an updated review of this disease, and having an understanding of the capacities and limitations of the healthcare center where the clinician works, to ensure treatment options and protocols are available, and to correct any lack thereof.