Can heat stroke cause fever?

A fever is a regulated rise in body temperature, often linked with infection or inflammation. Heat stroke is a failure of temperature control after intense heat, exertion, or both. The person may have hot skin, headache, rapid breathing, weakness, dizziness, confusion, unusual behaviour, or collapse. Sweating may be present or absent, so sweating does not rule it out. Heat exhaustion can precede heat stroke and commonly includes heavy sweating and fatigue. A high temperature after heat exposure should therefore be treated as a possible emergency, especially when thinking or alertness changes.

Take the person out of the heat, loosen or remove extra clothing, and begin active cooling with cool wet cloths, water, and moving air. Arrange emergency medical help if heat stroke is possible. Stay with the person and monitor responsiveness. If they are alert and swallowing normally, offer small sips of fluid. Avoid forcing drinks and do not give anything by mouth when they are confused, very sleepy, having seizures, or unconscious. Hospital care may include monitoring and IV Fluid Therapy.

Call emergency services for confusion, fainting, seizure, severe headache, breathing difficulty, collapse, or a very hot body after heat exposure. Urgent review is also needed when cooling does not improve the person, when repeated vomiting prevents drinking, or when urine becomes unusually scant. Do not assume the temperature is an ordinary fever until heat exposure and mental state have been considered.

Ask whether the temperature pattern fits heat illness or infection, how long cooling should continue, which fluids are appropriate, and how to prevent another episode. Share the person's recent activity, location, clothing, medicines, measured temperature, and any changes in alertness.