title: Exertional heatstroke: clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is a life threatening disease characteristically affecting young adults involved in strenuous physical activity. Delay in diagnosis and management may adversely affect outcome. The aim of this study was to summarize our experience with this syndrome and to identify factors associated with poor outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study we enrolled thirty two patients who met the case definition of exertional heat stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 32 patients, 27 (84%) were male and their median age was 19 years. 26 patients were residents of the northern parts of the country spending less than 10 days in the area. Only 10 patients (31%) were correctly diagnosed and treated in the prehospital setting. Those in whom treatment was delayed had higher rates of multi-organ failure and longer hospitalizations. In 7 patients protracted systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) was observed. Of the 14 patients that had moderate to severe disease requiring ICU admission, eight (25%) were mechanically ventilated, two (6.3%) were dead on arrival. The other half of the cohort had a mild disease managed by the general wards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exertional heat stroke is a life threatening disease. Early diagnosis and appropriate management may improve outcome. Protracted SIRS may complicate the course of EHS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. zellerl@bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novack
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barski
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jotkowitz
authors.forename: Yaniv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Almog
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D018883:Heat Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult