Abstract

The heterogeneous and ubiquitous nature of heat induced illnesses has presented a timeless challenge to healthcare providers. Heat illnesses comprise a constellation of conditions that vary from the superficially annoying miliaria rubra, to the often fatal heat stroke with multi-organ dysfunction. Etiologies, risk factors and those affected are equally diverse, ranging from the very young to the very old, from world class athletes to disabled individuals, and from world superpowers to third world countries. As a result, a review of this nature is inherently limited in its attempted scope. We will try to address those educational needs germane to emergency providers. This includes not only the obvious question of how toapproach a hyperthermic patient both diagnostically and therapeutically, but out of necessity the various risk factors and pathophysiology involved. As in many aspects of medicine, prevention and planning often present the greatest opportunity to impact morbidity and mortality. Increasingly, emergency physicians are reaching out of the ED and are involved in the medical oversight of a wide  range of special populations, including EMS, firefighters, military personnel, athletes, and refugees. This demands more than just a cursory knowledge of the subject matter, and will allow emergency physicians to positively affect medical oversight as well as management.

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