Is Your Child Just Tired or Overheating? Dubai Doctor Warns of Early Heat Stress Signs Parents Often Miss

Dr Mamata Bothra, Specialist Pediatrician and Neonatologist at International Modern Hospital Dubai, warns that sudden fatigue, reduced sports performance and subtle behavioural changes in children could be early signs of heat-related illness, particularly during outdoor activities in the UAE.

Dubai: A child who suddenly slows down during football practice, struggles to keep up with teammates or appears unusually tired may not simply be exhausted from exercise. These seemingly ordinary changes could be early warning signs that the child’s body is struggling to cope with excessive heat.

A Dubai-based paediatric specialist is urging parents, schools and sports coaches to pay closer attention to subtle changes in children’s behaviour and physical performance, warning that heat-related illnesses can develop during outdoor activities, particularly in the UAE’s hot and humid conditions.

Dr Mamata Bothra, Specialist Pediatrician and Neonatologist at International Modern Hospital Dubai, said children are especially vulnerable to heat stress because their bodies may not regulate temperature as effectively as those of adults, particularly during strenuous physical activity.

“In the UAE, many children remain physically active outdoors throughout the year, including during periods of intense heat and humidity. While sports are extremely important for a child’s physical and mental wellbeing, parents and coaches must recognise that children are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses than adults because their bodies do not regulate temperature as efficiently,” she explained.

The warning sign that looks like ordinary tiredness

According to Dr Bothra, one of the most frequently overlooked symptoms of heat stress is a sudden decline in a child’s usual energy level or sporting performance.

A child who normally participates enthusiastically in training may suddenly become unusually quiet, slow down, struggle to complete familiar exercises or ask to stop playing.

These changes are sometimes mistaken for laziness, poor motivation or normal physical exhaustion.

“One of the most commonly overlooked early warning signs of heat stress in children — particularly in the age group between 6 and 16 years old — is unusual fatigue or a sudden drop in performance during training. Many parents and coaches may assume the child is simply tired or unmotivated, when in reality the body may already be struggling to cope with overheating,” Dr Bothra warned.

She emphasised that recognising these early changes is important because continued exertion in high temperatures can allow heat stress to progress into more serious heat-related illness.

Why children are particularly vulnerable

Children participating in football, cricket, cycling, running and other outdoor sports may generate substantial body heat during exercise.

When temperatures and humidity are high, the body’s ability to release excess heat through sweating and evaporation becomes less effective.

Children may also fail to recognise or communicate early symptoms, particularly when they are focused on playing or competing.

Dr Bothra explained that parents and coaches should watch for unusual tiredness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, excessive sweating, muscle cramps and changes in behaviour.

A child who becomes confused, collapses or shows signs of altered consciousness may be experiencing a medical emergency.

When is it too hot for outdoor sports?

Dr Bothra stressed that outdoor sports schedules should be adjusted according to weather conditions, particularly during the UAE summer.

Temperatures above 35°C, especially when accompanied by humidity levels exceeding 60 per cent, warrant particular caution and may require outdoor activities to be postponed, shortened or moved indoors.

However, she emphasised that temperature and humidity should not be assessed separately. The overall heat stress risk also depends on direct sunlight, physical intensity, protective equipment, acclimatisation and the availability of cooling and hydration facilities.

During the hottest months, afternoon outdoor training sessions can be especially hazardous.

Whenever possible, schools, sports academies and parents should schedule activities during cooler early-morning or evening periods, while following applicable local outdoor activity restrictions and heat safety guidance.

Why waiting until a child feels thirsty is a mistake

Another important concern is inadequate hydration.

Children may become dehydrated during physical activity without recognising their body’s increasing need for fluids.

Dr Bothra recommends incorporating regular hydration breaks, generally every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise in hot conditions, rather than waiting for children to complain of thirst.

The amount of fluid required varies according to age, body size, exercise intensity, duration and sweat loss.

Coaches should also schedule rest periods in shaded or air-conditioned environments and monitor children for changes in energy, coordination and behaviour.

“Cooling towels, mist sprays, and access to air-conditioned recovery areas can also help significantly,” Dr Bothra said.

For prolonged or strenuous activity with substantial sweating, appropriate electrolyte replacement may also be considered, alongside water, according to individual needs.

What parents should do after outdoor exercise

Dr Bothra advised parents not to assume that the risk of heat-related illness ends immediately when training stops.

Children should be given sufficient time to cool down, rest and replace lost fluids after exercise.

Parents can monitor urine colour as one practical indicator of hydration, although it should not be used as the only measure.

Persistently dark urine, reduced urination, dizziness or unusual weakness may suggest dehydration or another heat-related problem requiring assessment.

If a child develops suspected heat exhaustion, activity should stop immediately, and the child should be moved to a cooler location, with active cooling started and fluids offered if the child is fully alert and able to drink.

Confusion, collapse, seizures or impaired consciousness require immediate emergency medical assistance and rapid cooling while help is being arranged.

A message to parents and sports coaches

Dr Bothra emphasised that physical activity remains essential for children’s growth, fitness and emotional wellbeing, but it must be supported by appropriate safety measures.

“Parents and coaches should never dismiss a sudden change in a child’s energy or behaviour during outdoor exercise. What appears to be ordinary tiredness could be an early warning that the body is overheating. Recognising these signs, allowing adequate rest and ensuring proper hydration can help prevent a potentially serious medical emergency,” she concluded.