Heat Stroke (Pancerebellar Syndrome)

Abstract

Heat stroke is a medical emergency characterized by a core body temperature >40°C or more, hot dry skin, and neurological disturbance.

Heat stroke may be environmental due to prolonged exposure to sun heat with hydration, endogenous as in runners during heavy military exercises (exertional heat stroke), or a combination of both. Heat stroke may also develop in other pathological conditions such as infections, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). NMS is a rare complication of neuroleptic medication therapy (e.g., haloperidol) characterized clinically by hyperpyrexia, muscular rigidity, auto-nomic dysfunction, altered mental status, and elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) levels. Patients with NMS typically present with fever and muscle rigidity 24–72 h after the start of treatment with neuro-leptic medications; however, NMS may develop weeks to months later. Cerebellar atrophy can be rarely caused by NMS.