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Heatstroke can lead to brain damage and organ failure in children when body temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius, a pediatric specialist has warned, calling for immediate medical assistance when serious symptoms set in.
Dr. Sirin Aslankilic, a specialist in child health and diseases, said rising temperatures in Diyarbakir and surrounding areas posed a particularly serious risk to children because their ability to cool down through sweating was less developed than that of adults.
Children with obesity or chronic illnesses, as well as those taking diuretic medication, should be watched more closely because heatstroke can quickly turn into a life-threatening emergency, she added.
Aslankilic said families should call 112, Türkiye's emergency number, without delay if a child suddenly stops sweating or develops hot and dry skin, confusion, extreme restlessness, seizures or fainting.
Other warning signs include being unable to wake the child, rapid and weak breathing, and continuous vomiting.
While waiting for emergency teams, caregivers should move the child to a cool, shaded area and bring down their body temperature by applying cloths soaked in cool water.
"Fever-reducing medicines should never be given in cases of heatstroke. These medicines do not lower the body temperature and may place an additional burden on the organs," Aslankilic said.
Children should be offered cool drinks at regular intervals even when they do not feel thirsty, Aslankilic said, adding that failing to urinate for six hours should be treated as a warning sign.
She also advised families not to let children play outside between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when temperatures are at their highest, and recommended loose, light-colored cotton clothing.
Children should never be left alone inside a vehicle, she stressed, regardless of how short the intended waiting time may be.
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