Owing to the erratically changing weather, doctors reveal that Mumbaikars might have to face health issues like respiratory problems and acute gastroenteritis. In fact Dr. Shahid Barmare, consultant physician, Kohinoor Hospital, said that his hospital is already witnessing such cases.
“Frequent fluctuation in temperature is having its effect on people’s health in the city. There is a rise in cases of respiratory problems and also acute gastroenteritis these days,” admitted Dr. Barmare.
The reason why such diseases are on a rise these days is that high temperature is conducive for growth of virus. While this causes viral gastroenteritis and respiratory ailments, gastroenteritis due to infection is because of consumption of cold things from outside and intake of unhygienic food and water.
Dr. Kanchan S. Gadkari, consulting physician, Nanavati Hospital, said, “Till now, there have not been many cases of ailments due to the changing temperature.
But yes, if this trend continues then cases of viral fever, cold and cough will go up. Also, if the temperature rises a bit too much, there can be cases of sun strokes also. But, we will have to wait and watch.”
And how are children coping with this temperature change? According to Dr. Prakash Vaidya, Consulting paediatrician, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, while children below the age of ten are affected by the fluctuating temperature, children below five are more vulnerable. “This winter, we saw cases of viral infection, diarrhoea and bacterial pneumonia. The cases of bacterial pneumonia were more than usual. The fluctuating temperature just aggravates these conditions. Children with asthma and wheezing problems are the worst affected,” stated Dr. Vaidya.
While Dr. Barmare advised use of handkerchiefs and tissues while coughing and sneezing, their proper disposal to prevent spread of the ailment, and consumption of lots of boiled water, Dr. Gadkari asked people not to subject the body to extreme temperatures – meaning, if one has been out in the heat for some time, then one must allow the body to cool down a bit before entering an air-conditioned room or consuming anything cold.
Dr. Vaidya strongly advocated that children up to the age of five take pneumococcal vaccine, with the help of which 60 per cent of all cases of pneumonia can be
prevented.
“This winter, we saw cases of viral infection, diarrhoea and bacterial pneumonia. The cases of bacterial pneumonia were more than usual. The fluctuating temperature just aggravates these conditions. Children with asthma and wheezing problems are the worst affected,” says Dr. Prakash Vaidya.