Heat syncope
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	T67.1
ICD-9	992.1

Heat syncope is another stage in the same process as heat stroke, occurs under similar conditions as heat stroke and is not distinguished from the latter by some authorities. The basic symptom of heat syncope is a body temperature above 40°C (104°F) with fainting, or without mental confusion, which does occur in heat stroke. Heat syncope is caused by mild overheating with inadequate water or salt. In young persons, it is far more common than true sunstroke.

[edit] Classification

Heat syncope is a type of heat illness

[edit] Causes

Heat syncope occurs when blood pressure is lowered as the body dilates (widens) arterioles (small blood vessels) in the skin to radiate heat. Also, water is evaporated from the blood, reducing the blood's volume and therefore lowering blood pressure further. The result is less blood to the brain, causing light-headedness and fainting.

[edit] Treatment

The basic treatment for heat syncope is like that for fainting: the patient is positioned in a seating or supine position with legs raised. Water and oral rehydration salt are administered slowly, and the patient is moved to a cooler area.

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v • d • e Symptoms and signs: cognition, perception, emotional state and behaviour (R40-R46, 780.0-780.5,781.1) Cognition Alteration of consciousness Confusion (Delirium) · Somnolence · Obtundation · Stupor · Unconsciousness (Syncope, Coma, Persistent vegetative state) Fainting/Syncope Carotid sinus syncope • Heat syncope • Vasovagal episode Other Amnesia (Anterograde amnesia, Retrograde amnesia) · Dizziness (Vertigo, Presyncope/Lightheadedness, Disequilibrium) · Convulsion Emotional state Anxiety · Irritability · Hostility · Suicidal ideation Behavior Verbosity Perception/ sensation disorder Olfaction : Anosmia · Hyposmia · Dysosmia · Parosmia · Hyperosmia Taste: Ageusia · Hypogeusia · Dysgeusia  · Parageusia · Hypergeusia Hallucination: Auditory hallucination psychology navs: mental processes, disorders, symptoms/signs, speech/voice, psychotherapy olfaction navs: anatomy, symptoms/signs taste navs: anatomy, symptoms/signs

v • d • e Consequences of external causes (T66-T88, 990-999) Temperature/radiation elevated: Hyperthermia · Heat syncope · Radiation poisoning reduced: Hypothermia · Immersion foot · Chilblain Air Hypoxia/Asphyxia · Barotrauma (Aerosinusitis, Decompression sickness) · Altitude sickness/Chronic mountain sickness Food Starvation Maltreatment Physical abuse · Sexual abuse · Psychological abuse Emesis Motion sickness · Seasickness · Airsickness · Space adaptation syndrome Other Electric shock · Anaphylaxis · Angioedema Hypersensitivity (Allergy, Arthus reaction) Subcutaneous emphysema Certain early complications of trauma embolism (Air, Fat) Crush syndrome/Rhabdomyolysis Contracture/Volkmann's contracture/Compartment syndrome Complications of surgical and medical care transfusion reactions: Transfusion hemosiderosis · TRALI · TACO · TA-GvHD · FNHTR · Acute/Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction other: Serum sickness · Malignant hyperthermia · Herxheimer reaction · Graft-versus-host disease · Tumor lysis syndrome