Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

If a patient is awake and experiencing profuse sweating, which condition are they most likely suffering from?

1. Heat exhaustion

2. Heat stroke

3. Heat cramps

4. Dehydration

The correct answer is: Heat exhaustion

The scenario describes a patient who is awake and experiencing profuse sweating. This symptom is characteristic of heat exhaustion, which occurs when a person becomes overheated, often due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures or strenuous physical activity in hot weather. In heat exhaustion, the body tries to cool itself through sweating. This condition can also present with symptoms such as weakness, dizziness, headache, and nausea. The fact that the patient is awake further supports this answer, as individuals suffering from heat exhaustion can usually maintain consciousness and sensory awareness, unlike those in heat stroke. In contrast, heat stroke is more severe and often presents with confusion, altered mental status, or unconsciousness, along with hot, dry skin due to the body’s inability to cool itself. Heat cramps, on the other hand, are painful muscle contractions that occur during physical exertion in hot weather but do not typically include profuse sweating as a primary symptom. Dehydration can lead to various symptoms, but it is not directly defined by sweating, and a dehydrated individual may show signs like dry skin and altered mental status if severely affected. Therefore, heat exhaustion is the most fitting condition given the symptoms presented.