HEAT PROSTRATION IN FIBROCYSTIC DISEASE OF THE PANCREAS AND OTHER CONDITIONS

Twelve cases of heat prostration in infants and children are reported. Ten of these occurred during the New York City heat wave of August 1948. Seven of these patients had cystic fibrosis of the pancreas. These patients differed from those with heat prostration but without fibrocystic disease in the following ways: They were considered to be doing well prior to the acute onset; the onset was later in the course of the heat wave than was the case in the nonfibrocystic patients; onset was with vomiting; the clinical response to therapy was prompt while the return of plasma chlorides to normal was more gradual. Patients with fibrocystic disease of the pancreas are especially susceptible to heat prostration during prolonged periods of high atmospheric temperature. This fact has a practical application in prophylaxis for known cases of this disease, and in arousing a suspicion of the disease in infants and children with heat prostraton who have previously been considered healthy.