Summary

• Generally associated with core temperatures >104°F (>40°C), though heat stroke can occur at lower core temperatures.
• Diagnosis rests on the observation of hyperthermia in the presence of profound CNS dysfunction.
• Medications may predispose patients to heat stroke (e.g., diuretics, antihypertensives).
• Early cooling reduces mortality and morbidity, and should be initiated as soon as possible.
• Evaporation and ice water immersion are both widely used as cooling methods.
• Patients are at risk of multisystem organ failure, and careful monitoring is essential even after return to normothermia.