Recognizing and Managing Heat Exhaustion in Children

Is your child reporting headache or drowsiness upon arrival at school or play? It might be heat exhaustion, an overlooked but very common illness in children during heat waves. Being able to identify such signs during a typical Bangalore summer can be very significant in providing your child with safety and protection. Kids are most susceptible to heat diseases because their bodies never acclimatize to the ability to tolerate heat as much as adults.
 

In this blog, AVH Hospital in Madanayakanahalli brings you valuable information on heat exhaustion in children, identifying the early warning signs, what to do immediately, and valuable summer safety tips. Stay alert and proactive to keep your child safe, healthy, and full of energy all season long.

What is Heat Exhaustion in Children?

Heat exhaustion is a stage where the body begins to develop symptoms of heat stress in the school hours or playing outside on a sunny, hot day. It is destructive less than sunstroke; sunstroke can strike anytime if neglected. It should be understood to recognize so that protective measures are made during long periods of hot weather in urban centers such as Bengaluru, where summer month temperatures drain children’s energy.

General signs of heat exhaustion in children

Prevention is the best and most effective action of heat exhaustion by early identification of signs. Most Vulnerable signs to watch out for in children are:
 

• Profuse sweating
• Sticky, pale, cool complexion
• Light-headedness or dizziness
• Unaccountable weakness or tiredness
• Cramping of muscles
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache
• Irritability or unaccountable faintness
• Heat eruptions or prickly heat
   

If your child experiences any of these after outdoor activity or sun exposures, it is best to take quick measures before the complications set in.

How to Treat Heat Exhaustion in Children

There are some simple and efficient habits that must be adopted to recover from heat exhaustion in children, and these can be of immense use if taken in time:
 

• Loosen the tight clothes.
• Evacuate the child to an indoor or covered location.
• Provide cool water or an electrolyte beverage in small and frequent amounts.
• Use cold, wet towels to the body or a fan to cool.
• Rest the child and avoid subjecting him or her to any kind of exertion until he or she is recovered.
   

If no reaction has been shown in 30 minutes, or the child becomes unconscious or stuporous, consult a doctor urgently.

Summer Safety Tips for Children

Adhere to the summer safety tips for children in order to avert heat ailments:
 

• Be well-hydrated by drinking lots of water during the day-even though children are still not thirsty.
• Loose, light clothes like cotton wear.
• Take outdoor excursions in the cooler part of the day-morning or evening.
• Employ wide-brimmed hats and sunshades and prickly heat powder on back and chest as secondary protection.
• Never leave children alone in parked vehicles, even for a short time.
   

These habits will be able to perform an excellent task at keeping children from suffering heat exhaustion.

When to Seek Medical Help

Home treatment with rest and fluids in the majority of heat exhaustion cases in children is sufficient. See a physician when the following occur:
 

• Child develops a fever.
• Rest and fluids are not effective.
• Vomiting and diarrhoea prevents rehydration.
• Seizure, confusion, or loss of consciousness

Final Thought

We hope that after reading this blog you'll be able to recognize and treat heat exhaustion in children. Detection of warning signs early and the treatment of heat exhaustion in children can prevent such serious complications and lead to a healthy, risk-free summer. At AVH Hospital, we’re committed to safeguarding children's health with expert pediatric care-because “Life Matters”, especially when it’s about the well-being of our little ones.