health
May 19, 2024

Sunstroke: recognize and treat symptoms

What is a sunstroke?

Sunstroke can be like heat stroke from intense sunlight on the head and neck when unprotected. This irritates the meninges or brain tissue. In most cases, a sunstroke leads to complaints such as severe head and neck pain and a generally reddened and overheated head. The symptoms are similar to a heat stroke? this is even more dangerous. Particularly at risk are people with fair skin and / or no or few hairs, infants, toddlers and seniors.

In most cases, the first symptoms only appear a few hours after sunbathing. Those affected should avoid the direct sun and sit in a cool place with their upper body and head elevated. Head and neck should be cooled with damp cloths. If the symptoms are severe or worsen after they have been mild at first, should a doctor be called? in the worst case, a sunstroke can be deadly.

Typical signs of a sunstroke

There are several possible signs of a sunstroke. The following complaints can occur:

Head is red and overheated
a headache
Neck pain / stiff neck
nausea
exhaustion
dizziness
Inner unrest
Body temperature normal or slightly increased at the most / Children occasionally suffer from fever (more on this in the article Sunstroke in children)

For heavy progressions Additional symptoms are possible:

Awareness disorders or circulatory collapse to coma
confusion
respiratory disorders
Vomit

If these complications occur, should an emergency doctor be called immediately? there is danger to life! The symptoms can cause serious damage to the brain. Attention should be paid to these signs:

brain edema: Water enters the cells from the brain vessels, causing the brain to swell. But it can not stretch endlessly in the bony skull? The increased pressure can squeeze the brain to cause damage. Sufferers usually suffer from severe headaches, appear dizzy or listless, have seizures, speech or breathing disorders.
Consciousness or circulatory disorders, unconsciousness: Some sufferers are restless and upset, others confused and indifferent. Unconscious patients should be placed in a stable lateral position; in the case of cardiac or respiratory arrest, cardiac massage and respiration are necessary.
Meningitis: Particularly in small children, a sunstroke leads relatively often to meningitis ("meningitis"). If the child complains of non-specific additional complaints such as abdominal pain, malaise, sensitivity to light, noise or touch, and if it has insomnia, it may indicate meningitis. Especially since the symptoms are difficult to classify, a child after a sunstroke should always be examined by a doctor.
Heat stroke: Also, in parallel with the sunstroke, a heat stroke may develop, for example, when the person concerned exercises physically in the sun in the heat and at the same time is dehydrated. The heat stroke is characterized by a fast pulse, low blood pressure and feverish, hot skin all over the body and should be treated immediately by an ambulance.

Which treatment helps with a sunstroke?

First of all, you should avoid sun and heat during a sunstroke and look for a cool, shady place. Since the complaints usually occur only hours later, this measure is no longer necessary in many cases. In addition, the following should be considered for sunstroke treatment:

Storage: Those affected should sit with their upper bodies raised and their heads raised. This reduces the pressure on the aching head.
Liquid: In a sunstroke you are usually dehydrated. If the person is conscious and does not vomit, liquid should be given to him. In addition to mineral water and fruit spritzers, special electrolyte drinks from the pharmacy are ideal.
Cooling: It is best to use cool damp cloths against the overheated head, which should be placed on the head, neck and neck and replaced as soon as they have warmed up. Cool packs are not suitable? the extreme cold only pollutes the body unnecessarily.

The patient must be well watched? the complaints should slowly develop back. For complications of any kind, it is important to contact the emergency doctor directly. Otherwise, experts suggest that after a sunstroke, avoid physical exertion and avoid the sun for several days. Also important: we explain heat stroke symptoms here!