Can heatstroke cause a high fever?
Disease description:
My baby is 12 months old and has no cold symptoms, but appears lethargy. This morning, the baby developed a fever of 38.5°C. The doctor diagnosed it as heatstroke. I would like to consult whether heatstroke can cause high fever.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Mingxuan
If a patient suffers from heatstroke, febrile convulsions will not present with fever. Heat exhaustion is associated with mild fever, whereas patients with heatstroke exhibit marked hyperthermia—typically with body temperature exceeding 41°C. The primary cause of these conditions is exposure to high-temperature environments during work, leading to dysfunction of the thermoregulatory center, electrolyte imbalances, and loss of body fluids. Complications such as fever and increased sweating may occur; therefore, patients must immediately be removed from the hot environment following heatstroke.
