Hot weather, Hanoi man suffers acute kidney failure due to common mistake

(Dan Tri) - This case is a clear warning about the serious health risks caused by hot weather, especially for workers outdoors or in poorly ventilated environments.

Acute kidney failure due to heat

During the recent severe heat wave, Duc Giang General Hospital successfully treated a patient with severe heatstroke, complications of acute kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis.

Male patient TTA, residing in Long Bien district, was brought to the Emergency Department in critical condition: muscle aches all over the body, cramps in many muscle groups, severe thirst, dizziness, cold, clammy skin, rapid pulse of up to 170 beats/minute and signs of severe blood concentration.

The patient said that before being hospitalized, he worked in the factory from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., in hot weather conditions of 38-39°C and poor ventilation.

The male patient was treated at Duc Giang General Hospital (Photo: Provided by the hospital).

During his shift, he sweated profusely, suffered from muscle pain in his arms and legs, and eventually developed severe cramps. Notably, he did not drink enough water throughout the entire shift.

Doctors suspected the patient had heatstroke, complications of acute renal failure and rhabdomyolysis based on clinical symptoms.

Immediately, the medical team implemented active treatment, without waiting for test results: Pain relief, large volume of intravenous fluids to replenish water and electrolytes, and close monitoring with testing every 3 hours.

Subsequent results confirmed acute renal failure (elevated creatinine and blood urea), rhabdomyolysis (significantly increased CK), accompanied by hypokalemia and severe acid-base imbalance.

After 3 hours of infusing 1,700 ml of fluid, the indicators began to improve significantly. By the 8th hour, after a total of 4,000 ml of fluid had been replaced, the patient no longer had metabolic acidosis and was able to urinate again.

After 3 days of treatment, the patient's condition was stable, kidney function recovered well, and urine output was normal. However, rhabdomyolysis still required monitoring and continued treatment.

Doctors are closely monitoring CK and LDH levels to ensure the patient does not experience long-term complications.

Heatstroke can be life threatening.

Master, Doctor Nguyen Duy Toan - Emergency Department, Duc Giang General Hospital said: "Heatstroke is a condition in which the body loses its ability to regulate temperature due to exposure to high temperatures and/or prolonged exertion.

When the thermoregulation mechanism is overloaded, the central nervous system is disrupted. If not treated promptly, heatstroke can progress to heat stroke, which is life-threatening.

The main causes of this condition include: Not drinking enough water in hot weather, working in poorly ventilated environments, and direct exposure to sunlight for long periods of time.

Air humidity of 60% or higher also reduces the ability of sweat to evaporate, making it difficult for the body to dissipate heat.

Doctors recommend preventing heatstroke through the following measures:

- Drink enough water every day (2-3 liters), increase the amount when doing heavy work.

- Avoid going outside from 10am to 4pm.

- Make sure the workplace is well-ventilated, with a fan or air conditioner.

- Recognize early signs such as dizziness, headache, nausea for timely treatment.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nang-nong-nguoi-dan-ong-ha-noi-suy-than-cap-vi-sai-lam-thuong-gap-20250606154340893.htm