It's getting hot in here: heat stroke in children and young people for paediatric clinicians

Abstract

Children and young people are at increased risk of heat-related illness such as heat stroke. This is largely due to their anatomy, physiology and overall development. What makes them particularly vulnerable is their reliance on others to protect them from extreme heat and provide shade and water at times of prolonged exposure. With a rise in environmental temperatures associated with global warming, experts are warning of an increase in paediatric heat-related illnesses. Management of heat stroke in adults is well documented, however literature on children and young people is variable. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the presentation of paediatric heatstroke for clinicians caring for children and young people.