While soaring mercury has surpassed all the records of previous years, the summer in the national Capital has increased cases of typhoid, diarrhea, viral and gastrointestinal problems among the patients by 30 per cent compared to last year, doctors said.
According to city’s top doctors, this year summer related health issues have come up bit early and are increasing each day due to the intense heat. Doctors also said that few cases of heat cramps and heat exhaustion have also been seen. While the OPDs of private hospitals are witnessing the patients complaining these health issues, Government hospitals such as Dr Ram Manohar lohia (RMl), Safdarjung, Deen Dayal Upadhaya (DDU) have all confirmed the same problems of the patients.
It is not only the adults and elderly people who are the victims of the cruel summer, children and toddlers are also suffering due to boiling weather. Dr Neelam Mohan, Head of Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Medanta Hospital said: “In summer months, water borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, food poisoning, diarrhea, viral fever occur because of contaminated water. As people increase their fluid intake to cope up with the heat, they do not even realise what the quality of water is.”
Citing ice cubes used by fruit juice shops as one of the risk factors for the water borne diseases, Dr Mohan said people who do swimming should also make sure that while swimming, the water should not go inside their mouth.
Dr SP Byotra, Director in the Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said, “Everyday, I am witnessing patients suffering from fever, heat cramps vomiting, dehydration with other health problems.”
Advising people not to eat road side cut fruits, snacks, Dr Byotra said that people, especially children, should avoid moving out between 11-3 in the afternoon. “Those who are travelling should keep a water bottle and umbrella handy. Also, if needed, they should intake lemonade/ ORS daily. They should wear cotton and light colored clothes.”
According to doctors, this year cases have appeared early. Dr Vinay labroo, Additional Director in Internal Medicine at Jaypee Hospital, Nodia said, “This year, cases for summer related health issues have come up early. People are complaining of heat exhaustion, high fever and jaundice. To avoid from getting de-hydrated, intake of liquid is must,” he said.
Savita Babbar, Medical Superintendent of DDU hospital informed about the increase in gastrointestinal problems and viral fever.
In the intense summer, heat can cause cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. In heat cramps, patients complain of muscle cramps such as calves and thighs. On the other hand, in heat exhaustion, patients suffer from rapid sweating when body touches high temperature which further leads to heat stroke, a medical emergency, said Dr AP Mishra, Senior Consultant at Fortis Hospital.