[Classification of heat illness].

In the type of heat illness, several medical terms such as heat syncope, heat cramp, heat exhaustion, heat stroke are included. But their Japanese medical terms are neither unified nor clearly defined. To eliminate this problem, the new classification for heat illness is proposed. By the severity of heat illness, they are divided into three grades. Grade I is corresponded to heat cramp and heat syncope. Grade III is corresponded to heat stroke, and used for any one of the three following clinical findings, (1) Central nervous system dysfunction, i.e., consciousness disturbance, seizure, ataxia. (2) Liver and kidney dysfunction. (3) Clotting disorder, i.e., DIC. This classification can be beneficial not only to the diagnosis in the hospital, but also to the early detection and management of heat illness in the field.