Heat Stroke Treatment in India

Myra Mehta, a 68-year-old retired schoolteacher,...

Myra Mehta, a 68-year-old retired schoolteacher, lives alone in a third-floor apartment without air conditioning. A frugal woman who dislikes 'wasting' electricity, she endured a severe heatwave by keeping her windows shut. Her concerned daughter, who calls daily, grew alarmed when Myra became confused and slurred her words over the phone. She found Myra at home, disoriented, with hot, dry skin, and a rapid pulse. At the ER, the internal medicine doctor diagnosed severe heat stroke with a core temperature of 105°F (40.6°C). The doctor urgently recommended rapid cooling: removing her clothes, applying ice packs to her neck and groin, and using a cooling mist and fan. Myra was confused and frightened during the aggressive treatment, feeling invaded by the cold. Over several hours in the ICU, her temperature slowly normalized. The recovery was gradual; she suffered lingering confusion and weakness for days and required IV fluids for dehydration. Emotionally, she felt a profound sense of vulnerability and shame for 'letting this happen.' After recovery, with a window AC unit installed by her daughter, she felt grateful but cautious, her independence now tempered with a healthy respect for the heat and a promise to her family to prioritize her safety.