By IANS
New Delhi : A sweltering June and unrelenting heat have caused sun stroke and gastroenteritis to many Delhiites with hospitals reporting a 30-40 percent rise in such cases.
"There is certainly a rise in the number of patients suffering from gastroenteritis problems. There is at least a 30 percent increase in patients suffering from stomach and intestine problems coming to our hospital," said Praveen Aggarwal, head of emergency services at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.
"Though we are not keeping a record of such patients but scores of people with stomach upset, food poisoning and diarrhoea are coming for treatment. We have a few cases of sunstroke as well," Aggarwal told IANS.
Randhir Sud, a senior gastroenterologist at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, had a similar story to tell.
"The number of such cases are up substantially in the last few days. I think we have registered a 40 percent rise in the number of such patients."
Sud added: "Excessive food intake, eating roadside food, exposed fruits and unclean water are the main reasons behind this problem."
Doctors stressed that any kind of fever, nausea, vomiting, loose motion, stiff neck, legs and any other muscle pain should not be taken lightly.
"All these symptoms are capable of causing sun stroke and may even be fatal," Sud said.
Delhi has been suffering scorching heat since June and the temperature reached a season's high of 44.9 degrees Celsius Saturday. On Sunday, the city recorded 44 degrees Celsius.
According to meteorologists, the capital has not received any rain since June 1 though May recorded five times its usual precipitation.
"Though we had received over 80 mm rains in May as against its 17.5 mm quota, there is no rain so far in Delhi," a met official said, adding that the city generally receives 55 mm of rainfall during June.
At least 10 people have succumbed to suspected sunstroke this month in several parts of Delhi.
The state-run Deen Dayal Upadhayay hospital is also flooded with such patients and doctors say that gastroenteritis problems are a clear indication of possible sunstroke.
"We are getting many such patients and are treating every single fever patient as a victim of sunstroke till proved otherwise. Few people have also died due to similar symptoms in our hospital," said a senior doctor at the hospital.
Shashank Ojha, a student here, was also hit by the heat and suffered from diarrhoea.
"After being treated for diarrhoea and stiff leg muscles, doctors have advised me to stay indoors during most part of the day. I am drinking at least six litres of water a day apart from several glasses of juices," Ojha said.
Health experts have advised people to cover their body fully and take as much liquid as possible. "Keep kids and elders away from the sun. Eat hygienic food and any type of uneasiness should be diagnosed," said G.C. Khillani, professor of medicine at AIIMS.