The extreme fluctuation in temperature, coupled with high humidity levels, has led to many people suffering from gastroenteritis, upper respiratory problems, and other such ailments, say city doctors.
The extreme fluctuation in temperature, coupled with high humidity levels, has led to many people suffering from gastroenteritis, upper respiratory problems, and other such ailments, say city doctors.
According to them, hot and humid weather and large diurnal variations with cool mornings, hot afternoons followed by cooler evenings are leading to eye allergies, throat infections and gastroenteritis. The most common ailment is low blood pressure due to dehydration and muscle cramps.
Family physician from Bandra Dr Subodh Kedia said, "Low blood pressure, muscle cramps and dehydration are common problems in summers, but this time the weather has been a little harsh. It is hot and humid, and excessive sweating is leading to imbalance of electrolytes in the body, which help in maintaining good health. We are getting many people with these problems."
According to the doctors, most cases of low blood pressures and muscle cramps are seen in people who are into field work, like marketing professionals. "These two issues can be easily avoided. People should hydrate themselves continuously and ensure that while doing so they don't consume cold drinks," added Kedia.
Doctors are also seeing more cases of gastroenteritis with people eating and drinking outside and falling prey to unhygienic food and juices.
Dr Pratit Samdhani, consulting physician at Jaslok hospital, said, "In the summer ailments this year, we are seeing more gastroenteritis cases, followed by viral infections on upper respiratory tract."
"Most of the gastroenteritis cases are because of bacterial infection. When we dug into details of the patients' food intake, we found that all these cases are because of eating outside food," agreed Kedia.
Paediatricians too are seeing a large number of cases of stomach infections. "With vacation on, we have observed that a lot many people are eating out. We are getting a large number of children with vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramp symptoms," said Dr Mukesh Sanklecha, consulting paediatrician from Bombay hospital.
Doctors say preventive measures against such common ailments are most simple and easy to follow.
"The first rule is safe drinking water; people should boil water and drink it. They should avoid cold water or soft drinks, especially ice in juices, as that's extremely unhygienic," said Samdhani.
Sanklecha added, "Parents should be very careful on what their child is eating. We are getting children with sore throat and cold after eating ice creams and drinking cold water/drinks frequently."
Kedia said equal importance must be laid on eating hygienic home food. "Foods tend to get spoilt easily in summers. One should therefore be careful while eating even at home. Children should always be given washed fruits. Sugarcane juice should be avoided in the afternoons as it could be full of harmful bacteria," he said.
Ways to keep yourself healthy
Carry your own food and water bottle as far as possible
Don't eat food from roadside vendors
If you can't boil it, cook it or peel it, don't eat it
Keep a check on drinking water supply, complain if you get contaminated water
Boil water before drinking
Maintain a reasonable amount of hygiene by washing hands regularly
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