Heat cramps

Background

• Painful, involuntary, spasmodic contractions of skeletal muscles
  • Usually affects calves, may involve thighs and shoulders
• 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

Differential Diagnosis

Environmental heat diagnoses

• Heat cramps
• Heat edema
• Heat exhaustion
• Heat tetany
• Heat stroke
• Heat syncope
• Miliaria
• Hyperthermia

Treatment

• Self-limited
• Pain is difficult to treat
  • Often does not respond to opiates alone
• Mild symptoms: sports drinks
• Severe symptoms: IV normal saline

See Also

• Heat Emergencies

Source

Waters T. Heat Emergencies In: Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 7th ed. McGraw Hill Medical. 2011: 1339-1344