From heat rash, cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, heat waves can light up a variety of heat-related illnesses. Depending on the disease, you may develop different symptoms.
Heat rash can include red, itchy skin, small bumps or blisters on sweaty areas of the body, which can also lead to infection.
Heat cramps are painful and can cause discomfort in the legs, arms, and abdomen. Muscle cramps are common.
Heat exhaustion can cause rapid, shallow breathing with muscle aches, headache, irritability, weak pulse and gastrointestinal issues. Dizziness, weakness and loss of consciousness are other common symptoms.
Heat stroke can range from mild to severe symptoms. It can cause dizziness, red, swollen skin, nausea, high body temperature up to 105 degrees. In severe cases, a person may have seizures, hyperventilate, experience confusion, agitation, and hallucinations.
As far as a COVID-19 infection is concerned, there may be some resemblance to heat wave symptoms like high temperature, rapid, shallow breathing, headache, mental confusion etc. However, one should pay attention to the associated symptoms. Watch for other respiratory diseases, such as sore throat, runny nose, cough, or impaired sense of smell and taste. If the body temperature cools down on its own and your symptoms subside quickly after treatment, it probably isn’t COVID.