Which symptom is associated with heat exhaustion but not with heat stroke?

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are both heat-related illnesses, but they manifest with different symptoms due to the body's physiological responses to extreme heat exposure.

In the case of heat exhaustion, the body is still able to regulate its temperature to some extent, leading to symptoms such as cool, clammy skin. This is a result of the body sweating as a means to cool down; however, when the body loses too much water and electrolytes, it can become fatigued, but the skin often remains moist due to sweating.

Conversely, heat stroke represents a more severe condition where the body’s temperature regulation fails entirely. In heat stroke, the skin can become red, hot, and dry because sweating stops as the body’s temperature rises dangerously high. This key difference distinguishes the symptoms of heat exhaustion from those of heat stroke.

Thus, the presence of cool, clammy skin is a hallmark symptom of heat exhaustion, reflecting the body’s attempt to cool itself through sweating, while it is absent in heat stroke, where the skin is typically dry and overheated. This distinction helps medical professionals in diagnosing the condition and applying appropriate treatment measures.