Sunstroke is most common in elderly people with pre-existing chronic diseases like Arteriosclerosis, Congestive heart failure. It is also more common in patients who are taking diuretics. 

Direct exposure to sun is not a necessary prerequisite. It may develop during any period of hot weather, but the
incidence in temperate climate increases during prolonged heat waves and at temperature of 32.2 C or higher. High humidity in the range of 60-75% is a prerequisite to heat stroke.

Symptoms:-

  • Sweat fatigue is the major pathogenic mechanism of heat stroke and patients stop sweating before the onset of acute
    symptoms.
  • Loss of the consciousness may be the first sign.
  • Few patients may complain of headache, vertigo, faintness, abdominal distress, confusion, hyperaemia, and delirium may develop in more severe cases.
  • Fever and prostration. 
  • Pulse rate is increased and the respiration or breathing is rapid and weak.
  • Systolic blood pressure may be elevated, muscles are flaccid and tendon reflexes may be diminished.
  • Lethargy, stupor or coma depending on the severity, is present. Shock is common in fatal cases.
  • Person with sunstroke may die within few hours after being discovered, or may die of the complications such as acute renal failure.

Management:-

  • The bowels should be kept open daily.
  • Plenty of fluids taken, but Alcohol should not be consumed in excess.
  • The head, neck and spinal cord should be adequately protected from the sun.
  • Patient should be placed in a cool place with adequate circulation of fresh air with most of the clothing removed.
  • External means of dissipation must be employed. The most effective measure is to immerse the patient in the ice water bath. An ice water bath does not induce shock but stimulates significant cutaneous vasoconstriction. 
  • Covering the patient with cold wet towels under a fan may be satisfactory, if a bath is not available. After the
    bath patient should be placed in a cold well ventilated room.
  • Massage of the skin aids the acceleration of heat loss and stimulates the return of cool peripheral blood in the overheated brain and viscera.

Homoeopathic Approach:-

Homoeopathy offers few very good remedies to tackle this deadly problem.

Homoeopathically most important remedies are Glonoine, Aconite, Belladonna, Camphor, Verat. Album, Strammonium, and Nat. Mur. etc.