Which term refers to a high-temperature emergency condition that requires immediate medical attention?

The term that refers to a high-temperature emergency condition requiring immediate medical attention is heat stroke. Heat stroke occurs when the body's temperature regulation system fails due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, often combined with dehydration. This leads to a dangerously high body temperature, typically exceeding 104°F (40°C). The body can suffer severe damage to internal organs, brain function, and other systems without prompt treatment.

Recognizing the signs of heat stroke is critical, as it can escalate quickly and require emergency intervention, such as cooling the person down and administering fluids. Symptoms may include confusion, altered mental state, loss of consciousness, rapid pulse, and hot, dry skin, differentiating it from less severe conditions like heat exhaustion, which, while also serious, does not typically result in such extreme physiological distress and has different treatment measures.

The other terms mentioned, such as heat exhaustion, sunburn, and sun poisoning, describe conditions that can arise from heat exposure but do not constitute immediate life-threatening emergencies that require urgent medical care in the same way heat stroke does.