Which of the following best describes heat stroke?

• A. Cold moist skin
• B. Hypothermia
• C. No CNS involvement
• D. High body temperature >104°F; hot dry skin; hypotension; AMS

Answer: (D)

Heat stroke is a medical emergency from the body's thermoregulation failing, leading to very high core temperature and central nervous system dysfunction. The key picture is a core temperature above 104°F (40°C) with hot, dry skin (sweating often stops), along with hypotension and altered mental status or confusion. This combination distinguishes heat stroke from other heat-related conditions. For example, heat exhaustion can have high temperature but skin is usually sweaty and mental status is less severely affected, while hypothermia shows cold skin and a low body temperature. The presence of CNS changes with a markedly elevated temperature and dry skin best describes heat stroke.