Stave off summer diseases

Stave off summer diseases: doctors

R Gokul,TNN | Apr 29, 2014, 05.16 AM IST Times of India



TRICHY: As summer heat intensifies people run the risk of seasonal diseases like sore throat, fever, conjunctivitis, chicken pox etc. Many are opting for both allopathic and siddha treatment to get relief. Doctors here advise people to take precautionary measures to ward off heat and thereby heat-induced diseases.

Trichy city recorded extreme heat in the last few days with temperature inching towards 40 degree Celsius. On Monday, Trichy recorded 38 degree Celsius. Normally, such high temperature is felt by May. But in the past couple of years, temperature almost peaks even by early April. Heat is accentuated as sunlight reflects from the sand in Cauvery and Kollidam rivers after both went dry.

Strangely, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) has so far not witnessed any rise in illness cases due to summer heat, said Dr Kanagasundaram, its medical superintendent. Nevertheless, doctors here advise people to take precautionary measures.

Dehydration is common at this time when temperature crosses 35 degrees C on a daily basis. As quality of water supplied in summer is severely compromised chances of diarrhoea are high. "Heat-related diseases like dehydration, vomiting and diarrhoea can be prevented only by drinking pure water. The incidence of typhoid fever and jaundice may increase due to unhygienic water and inflow of tourists. Earlier, people used to consumer butter milk and tender coconut which prevented heat-related issues. But people in cities consume less hydrating food," said Dr Kanagasundaram.

The chances for chicken pox and small pox too are high in summer. Though, most people opt for traditional medicines to cure these diseases the treatment works out for those who have adequate immunity power. "Our hospital witnesses a few cases of chicken pox in summer. But people affected by heat-related problems want siddha treatment. While treatment is a remedy, people should try to lead life in the natural way," Dr S Kamaraj, government medical officer, ESI Hospital.

Dr M A Aleem, vice principal of KAP Viswanatham Government Medical College, attributed the increasing temperature as a man-made phenomenon. "The temperature increases due to widespread cutting of trees and rising vehicular pollution. Atmospheric temperature is going up every year and the duration of summer prolongs, but the duration of winter decreases. Hence, people should take extra care to protect their health," said Aleem.

People are advised to use cotton dresses and stay away from congested places. "People should avoid using tight-fitting dresses which may cause prickly heat problems. Staying in ventilated places also helps to avoid heat," said Dr Aleem.

Drinking plenty of pure boiled water, fruit juices, coconut water and water-rich fruits like watermelon will stave off heat-related diseases


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