| Excessive summer heat can cause debilitating illness. In heatstroke
alone, there are two kinds of conditions - sunstroke and heat
exhaustion.
SUNSTROKE:
Sunstroke occurs due to direct rays from the sun. The patient
falls unconscious. The pupils are usually contracted. The
face is flushed. The pulse is rapid. Breathing becomes difficult
and skin goes dry.
Sweating is absent. Mental confusion, headache, tremor, delirium,
convulsion and coma precede heath.
Body temperature persists at 106 degree Fahrenheit or even
more. This condition may cause death in a very short time,
in one or two hours or the patient may go on with the same
condition for a day or more.
However, even after symptoms disappear, the patient may take
several days to recover completely.
HEAT EXHAUSTION:
This occurs due to excessive sweating in an atmosphere of
high temperature when there is both fluid and salt depletion
and the patient has not taken enough fluid or salt to make
good for the loss.
Heat exhaustion may be of two types.
Salt-losing heat
exhaustion (heat cramps) is charactrised by weakness, headache,
giddiness, nausea, vomiting, cramps in the legs and irritability.
Gradually the blood pressure falls and the patient becomes
pale and the pulse become weak and quick and the patient collapes.
Anihidrotic heat exhaustion:
This is in association with prickly heat. The patient feels
extreme weakness, becomes irritable and the blood pressure
is slow. A little effort may lead to collapse. There may be
localized sweating in the axillac, hands, forehead and this
condition may lead to heat stroke.
GENERAL TREATMENT
For Sunstroke:
Remove garments of the patient. Drape patient's body in a
fine sheet of cloth and ice. Rub ice on the patient's body.
Switch on the fan to facilitate rapid evaporation.
Give a saline drip if necessary.
For Heat Exhaustion
Replace lost electrolytes by normal saline drip or orally,
if there is no vomiting.
Shift patient to a cool environment. Replace water loss by
giving adequate water to drink.
HEMOEO TREATMENT
Gelsemium:
It is the best preventive medicine for sunstroke.
Glonine:
This one works best in cases marked by congestion, full pu7lse,
high fever, loss of consciousness.
Belladona:
It can be used in patients with flushed faces, congested eyes,
full bounding pulse, unconsciousness, high fever, hot and
dry skin.
Natrum Mur:
It is an excellent medicine for sunstrokes.
Camphor:
It is useful in collapses and heat exhaustion.
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"Consult homeopathic physician before using any of the
above medicines"
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