Mercury rising: As summer escalates, hospitals see spike in heatstroke patients
A majority of patients are children who are at greater risk from the heat.
On Tuesday, the KTH received 277 patients in the A&E department. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
As the temperature goes up daily, government hospitals in the city report a concurrent increase in patients with dehydration and other stomach-related problems.
Doctors say a majority of the patients coming to accident and emergency (A&E) and out-patient departments (OPD) are children, who tend to be more exposed to the heat.
Information obtained by The Express Tribune from the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and Khyber Teaching Hospital shows around 500 and 300 patients were registered with gastric issues at each hospital respectively. Around 90% of these problems were caused by dehydration.
On Tuesday, the KTH received 277 patients in the A&E department. Officials say approximately 300 patients visit their A&E daily, complaining of heat stroke symptoms.
Between April 20 and May 20, the LRH saw 210 patients with severe dehydration in the children’s ward. Of those, 14 have lost their lives. These were patients sent from either the A&E or OPD with severe dehydration.
Medical experts say small measures taken by parents can help prevent dehydration in children.
“We provide ORS, drops and injections and avoid prescribing drugs because of the side effects,” explained KTH A&E head Dr Akbar Shah.
Parents should keep an eye on what their children eat to help prevent food poisoning and heat stroke, said Dr Shah. He recommended parents avoid medicating their children themselves.
During summer, many gastric diseases are caused by food prepared in unhygienic conditions, requiring children and the elderly to be extra careful about their diet. Gastric conditions often lead to dehydration which can be fatal, especially for children.
KTH children ward head Prof Dr Afzal Khan Khattak pointed out a majority of areas in Peshawar district had contaminated water supplies. Families should used purified or boiled water to prevent gastric issues, he added.
Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. Symptoms include headaches, decreased blood pressure and dizziness. It can also result in unconsciousness, swelling of the tongue and, in severe cases, death.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2013.
As the temperature goes up daily, government hospitals in the city report a concurrent increase in patients with dehydration and other stomach-related problems.
Doctors say a majority of the patients coming to accident and emergency (A&E) and out-patient departments (OPD) are children, who tend to be more exposed to the heat.
Information obtained by The Express Tribune from the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and Khyber Teaching Hospital shows around 500 and 300 patients were registered with gastric issues at each hospital respectively. Around 90% of these problems were caused by dehydration.
On Tuesday, the KTH received 277 patients in the A&E department. Officials say approximately 300 patients visit their A&E daily, complaining of heat stroke symptoms.
Between April 20 and May 20, the LRH saw 210 patients with severe dehydration in the children’s ward. Of those, 14 have lost their lives. These were patients sent from either the A&E or OPD with severe dehydration.
Medical experts say small measures taken by parents can help prevent dehydration in children.
“We provide ORS, drops and injections and avoid prescribing drugs because of the side effects,” explained KTH A&E head Dr Akbar Shah.
Parents should keep an eye on what their children eat to help prevent food poisoning and heat stroke, said Dr Shah. He recommended parents avoid medicating their children themselves.
During summer, many gastric diseases are caused by food prepared in unhygienic conditions, requiring children and the elderly to be extra careful about their diet. Gastric conditions often lead to dehydration which can be fatal, especially for children.
KTH children ward head Prof Dr Afzal Khan Khattak pointed out a majority of areas in Peshawar district had contaminated water supplies. Families should used purified or boiled water to prevent gastric issues, he added.
Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. Symptoms include headaches, decreased blood pressure and dizziness. It can also result in unconsciousness, swelling of the tongue and, in severe cases, death.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2013.