Clinical Conditions due to High Temperature quick review

*Description:*
Dive into an essential forensic medicine topic with this comprehensive PowerPoint presentation, focusing on the clinical conditions caused by high environmental temperatures. This presentation is perfect for medical students, forensic professionals, and healthcare educators looking to deepen their understanding of heat-related illnesses. Key topics include:

- *Heat Cramps:* Explore the causes, clinical features, and postmortem appearances of this common but often overlooked condition.
- *Heat Hyperpyrexia / Heat Stroke:* Understand the critical differences between classical and exertional heat stroke, their symptoms, and forensic implications.
- *Heat Prostration:* Learn about this milder form of heat-related illness and its progression, clinical signs, and forensic considerations.
- *Postmortem Findings:* Gain insights into the forensic examination of heat-related deaths, including external and internal findings for each condition.
- *Desert Syndrome (Hyperthermic Anhidrosis):* Delve into this rare condition, its clinical presentation, and its significance in forensic investigations.

This presentation is a must-see for anyone involved in forensic medicine or interested in the impact of extreme environmental conditions on the human body.

1. Effect of high environmental temperature BY DHANRAJ SETHI

2. Spectrum of heat illnesses

3. introduction Main clinical condition from exposure to high environmental temperature: Heat cramp Heat hyperpyrexia / heat stroke Heat prostration

4. Heat Cramps (Miner's cramp/Fireman's cramp) Definition: Painful muscle cramps due to rapid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Causes: Heavy sweating, prolonged work in hot conditions. Sudden in onset Clinical Features: Muscle pain and spasms Primarily in the abdomen, arms, and legs. Face is flushed , pupils dilated The patient may complains of dizziness, headache and vomiting. Intravenous injection of saline gives rapid relief. The Penitent, or Fireman Paris, 30 March 1877

5. Heat Prostration (heat syncope) Definition: Also known as heat exhaustion , it is a condition of collapse without increase in body temperature, which follows exposure to excessive heat . Clinical Features: Pale face, pupils are dilated Weakness, dizziness Skin is cold The pulse small and thready Outcome: Can progress to heat stroke if untreated.

6. Heat Stroke Definition: A condition characterized with body temperature >41°C and neurological disturbance due to external heat exposure. Types: 1. Cla ssical (Non-Exertional): Occurs in vulnerable populations due to prolonged heat exposure. 2. Exertional: Affects young, healthy individuals during intense physical activity in hot environments. A fever above >41.5°C is considered as H yperpyrexia

7. Clinical Features of Heat Stroke Symptoms: High body temperature (>41°C) Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating Confusion, agitation, seizures Possible loss of consciousness or coma Leads to breakdown of heat regulatory centre in hypothalamus Key Differences : Lack of sweating in classical heat stroke profuse sweating in exertional type.

8. H eat stroke is a medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated.

9. General post mortem findings Rigor mortis (RM) sets in early and disappears early Lividity is marked C.N.S: The brain is congested and oedematous and petechial haemorrhages are seen in the white matter. Heart: Dilation of right auricle, flabbiness of muscle, subendocardial haemorrhages and degeneration of myocardium Kidneys : Congestion, oedema and increase in weight. In case of longer survival, tubular necrosis and haemoglobinuric nephrosis is common General: Petechial and confluent haemorrhages and disseminated intravascular coagulation are seen in most organs.

10. Desert Syndrome (Hyperthermic Anhidrosis) Definition: it is Chronic adaptation to extreme heat, often seen in desert environments. After profuse generalised sweating for several days, perspiration stops suddenly in all parts of the body below the neck region but persists in face and neck. There is hyperkeratotic plugging of sweat glands leading to functional failure of sweat apparatus. First seen in US SOLDIERS training in desert

11. REFERENCES The Essentials of Forensic Medicine & toxicology   By   KS Narayan Reddy   (Author) OP Murty   (Author)

12. THANK YOU