Keywords
heat exhaustion
humidity
How to Cite
Abstract
Objective: Heat Exhaustion is a common heat related illness presentation seen in Emergency departments in hot and humid areas around the world. Despite being a well-established diagnosis, current literature shows inconsistent understanding of this disorder. In this study we aim to review the different clinical aspects of heat exhaustion.
Methods: In this retrospective study conducted in the emergency department at Hamad General Hospital, Doha-Qatar between May 2013 and September 2014, we reviewed the records of all patients diagnosed with heat exhaustion on discharge.
Results: Three hundred seventy-eight patients were included. Most of them presented in days where the highest ambient temperature (above 40° C) was associated with a relative humidity up to 60%. All patients had a smooth clinical course with no complications before discharge.
Conclusions: Heat Exhaustion is mostly a benign disorder, which should not be considered to overlap with other forms of heat related illnesses. Mild cases can be managed outside emergency departments.
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