Does heat stroke cause seizure?

Extreme body heat can disrupt brain function and may cause confusion, agitation, fainting, loss of coordination, or a seizure. Dehydration and changes in the body's salts can add to this stress. A seizure may involve stiffening, rhythmic jerking, staring, or reduced awareness. The person may remain confused or sleepy afterward, but recovery does not remove the need for assessment.

Call emergency services. Protect the person from nearby objects, cushion the head, loosen tight clothing around the neck, and time the episode. Do not restrain movement, put anything in the mouth, or give food, drink, or medicine. Once the movements stop, place the person on their side if they are breathing normally and stay with them while help arrives. Cool the body safely without interrupting seizure first aid.

Any suspected heat-stroke seizure is an emergency, particularly if it lasts several minutes, repeats, causes an injury, or is followed by breathing problems or unconsciousness. Emergency care is also required when the person is confused, very hot, faint, or unable to drink safely. Clinicians need to look for overheating, dehydration, salt disturbances, infection, or another neurological cause.

Ask whether the episode was caused by heat illness, what tests were performed, how to prevent another event, and when driving, work, sport, or strenuous activity can safely resume.