Heatstroke in a child: first symptoms and help

Summer heat, sunny days are a time when heat stroke is very easy, especially for a child. The mother needs to know the symptoms of heat stroke and how to help the baby.

Symptoms of heatstroke and sunstroke are similar in many ways, because sunstroke is a special case of heatstroke. However, due to the fact that the main "point of application" of the sun's merciless rays is the child's head during a sunstroke, its consequences can be more severe. You need to know how to act correctly and help the baby.

CAUSES OF HEAT STROKE

Most often, sunstroke occurs from 11 a.m. to 16 p.m., when the sun's rays are directed almost perpendicularly to the ground. Under their influence, the blood vessels of the child's brain expand, there is a strong flow of blood to the head, and the central nervous system is affected.

All this is very sad, especially if you consider that the methods of prevention of sunstroke are quite simple: to avoid problems, always wear a hat to the child and never go out into the sun.

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The younger the child, the more attention parents should pay to his condition in the heat. And the concept of "hot weather" for a child under three years old is 28 °С and higher. High humidity and insufficient air circulation, which often occurs in a car in traffic jams, is an additional burden on the baby's body. Heat stroke can develop in a baby if the mother hugs the baby too much, he is dressed in synthetic clothes and does not get water in hot weather. Yes, yes, if it is very hot outside, and your baby is less than six months old, he still needs to drink water, even if he is breastfeeding.

WHAT IS THE DANGER OF HEAT STROKE

Heatstroke is dangerous for babies because it can very quickly lead to the development of intracranial hypertension, cerebral edema, focal lesions of the central nervous system, and progressive circulatory failure. In the most severe cases, shock and coma may occur, followed by death.

SYMPTOMS OF HEAT STROKE

The first signs of heat stroke are sudden moodiness, overexcitement, reddening of the skin, cold sweat, stomach pain. Adults, for whom a temperature of 28°C is a small "overload", can attribute these symptoms to the child's fatigue or suspect the onset of an infectious disease.

If measures are not taken, the baby becomes weak, falls asleep, complains of headache, dizziness, darkening of the eyes or flashing of "flies" in front of the eyes. The child's skin dries quickly, becomes hot and dry. If even at this stage the parents do not take adequate measures for heatstroke, the child develops all the symptoms of dehydration: breathing becomes intermittent, the heartbeat is disturbed, vomiting, nosebleeds, convulsions, fainting may occur.

WHAT TO DO

• At the first symptoms of heat stroke, the child should be transferred to a cool room as soon as possible, remove extra clothes, and give him something to drink.
• It is necessary to give the baby a drink often, but little by little, so as not to cause vomiting.
• Towels soaked in cold water should be placed on the forehead and back of the head.
• If the child is less than three years old, it is better to immediately call an ambulance. With the appearance of severe symptoms, older children should also be called to the emergency room.

Take care of your children and yourself: make friends with the sun correctly!

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