Heat edema

Background
  • Commonly seen in travelers just arriving from a colder climate[1]
  • Thought to be from vasodilation, body attempts to shunt warm blood to periphery

Clinical Features
  • Self-limited, mild edema of feet, ankles, and hands[2]
  • Appears within first few days of exposure to a hot environment

Differential Diagnosis

Environmental heat diagnoses

Bilateral pedal edema
Differential Diagnosis of Pedal Edema
  • Gravitational
  • Venous insufficiency/thrombophlebitis
  • Drugs
    • NSAIDS
    • Birth control
    • Steroids
  • CHF
  • Lymphedema
  • Pretibial myxedema
  • Renal failure
  • Liver failure
  • DVT
  • Pregnancy
  • Heat edema
  • Idiopathic

Evaluation
  • Clinical diagnosis

Management
  1. Elevation of legs
  2. Use of support hose
  3. Diuretics are contraindicated (not beneficial and may cause dehydration)

Disposition
  • Outpatient
  • Resolves spontaneously in days to weeks

See Also
  • Heat Emergencies

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