Heat cramps

Background
  • Occurs to those who sweat profusely and replace fluid losses with water
    • May occur during exercise, but more common during rest several hours later
  • Typically does not involve enough muscle mass to cause rhabdomyolysis[1]

Clinical Features
  • Painful, involuntary, spasmodic contractions of skeletal muscles[2]
    • Usually affects calves, may involve thighs and shoulders

Differential Diagnosis

Environmental heat diagnoses

Evaluation
  • Clinical diagnosis

Management
  • Self-limited
  • Pain is difficult to treat
    • Often does not respond to opioids alone
  • Hydration

Disposition
  • Usually outpatient

See Also

References
  1. Waters T. Heat Emergencies In: Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 7th ed. McGraw Hill Medical. 2011: 1339-1344
  2. Waters T. Heat Emergencies In: Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 7th ed. McGraw Hill Medical. 2011: 1339-1344
This article is issued from Wikem. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.