Heat diseases flood city clinics after late-monsoon warm spell

Kolkata: The late monsoon warm spell has led to a spate of heat-induced diseases which are rare at this time of the year. Scores have sought treatment with heat exhaustion, dizziness, nausea and blackouts which are unusual during monsoon, said doctors and hospitals that have received a steady flow of these patients over the last four-five days when the maximum temperature has been hovering around 34°C.

The temperature fluctuations have aggravated viral infections, said Charnock Hospital emergency head Nishant Agarwal. The hospital has been receiving patients with acute weakness, diarrhoea, fever and muscle pain, often remnants of a viral infection that have flared up in the sudden heat. “The mercury climb has reactivated viruses and worsened the condition of those already affected. Those recovering from a viral infection are suffering relapses with a prolonged period of acute weakness, dehydration and diarrhoea triggered by the heat,” said Agarwal.

Fatigue has been a common symptom, according to RN Tagore Hospital intensivist Sauren Panja. “The body fails to adjust to sudden temperature fluctuations. After a long, rainy spell, it started getting warm over the last one week. This has led to fatigue, dizziness and fever. Many have also been suffering from diarrhoea. This is unusual in late Aug.”

Manipal Hospital infectious diseases physician Sayan Chakrabarty said, “Loss of fluids is common in this weather and it happens very fast once you are exposed to the sun. We have received numerous cases of fatigue and exhaustion triggered by dehydration, though not heatstroke,” said Chakrabarty.

Over the last three days, the OPD and Chest Clinic at BP Poddar Hospital have been seeing around 18–20 patients daily with fever, sore throat, persistent cough, nasal congestion, wheezing and shortness of breath. “While most of the cases remain manageable, two patients with more pronounced symptoms had to be admitted, one with underlying COPD and another with chronic bronchitis,” said Supriyo Chakrabarty, group adviser, BP Poddar.

Chakrabarty added, “These abrupt fluctuations in temperature and humidity can aggravate respiratory symptoms and also create conditions favourable for viral infections to spread. In some patients, particularly those with reduced immunity, a viral infection can subsequently progress to a secondary bacterial infection, leading to more persistent and severe symptoms,” he added.

Dehydration-induced drowsiness may strike at home, too, warned physicians. It could be the first stage of heat exhaustion or lead to heatstroke if one gets exposed to the sun for a long period.