Heat exhaustion is typically characterized by which combination of findings?

• A. Skin moist, pale, and cool with a normal body temperature.
• B. Skin dry and hot with a high fever.
• C. Severe unconsciousness.
• D. Severe muscle tremors.

Answer: (A)

Heat exhaustion occurs after significant fluid and electrolyte loss from sweating during heat exposure, with the body's cooling mechanism still working. That means the skin is usually moist and may feel cool and look pale, and the body temperature is normal or only mildly elevated. This fits the described finding of moist, pale, cool skin with a normal body temperature. In contrast, heat stroke would present with dry, hot skin and a high fever, and severe unconsciousness points to a more serious emergency such as heat stroke. Severe muscle tremors aren’t the signature feature of heat exhaustion; cramps involve painful muscle contractions but not this combination of moist skin and normal temperature. So the moist, pale, cool skin with a normal temperature best indicates heat exhaustion.