Heat-related illnesses become more damaging due to ignorance

Islamabad

The public sector hospitals in the federal capital and the allied hospitals in Rawalpindi have received hundreds of patients with heat-related illnesses, including heat rashes (prickly heat), heat cramps, heat edema, heat syncope and heat exhaustion. Health experts fear the number may rise further during an expected severe heat spell after two days or so.

According to health experts, the heat-related illnesses are more damaging mainly because of ignorance among public on various aspects of the illnesses and preventive measures needed to avoid these.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Monday has revealed that the public sector hospitals in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi received well over 500 patients with heat related disorders last week though no case of deadly heat stroke was reported in any of the hospital.

Experts believe that by creating sufficient awareness among public, the burden of patients with heat related illnesses can be minimised to a significant level. Keeping this in mind, the administration of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences has issued guidelines on management and prevention of heat related disorders before the recent severe heat spell, said Deputy Director at PIMS Dr. Wasim Ahmed Khawaja while talking to ‘The News’ on Monday.

Talking of another expected severe heat spell in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in coming days, he said that there is a need to create awareness among public on key signs and symptoms of heat related disorders including heat stroke that may be life threatening in case of ignorance.

Heat stroke considered as the most serious heat injury, results from failure of heat regulating mechanism and it is characterised by very high body temperature which may rise up to 105.1 fahrenheit or 40.6 degree centigrade with profound disturbances including convulsions, coma, dry hot skin, with no sweating or sometimes excessive sweating. It can be fatal even if the patient is taken quickly to a hospital, said Dr. Khawaja.

He said the treatment of heat stroke consists of rapidly cooling of the body in ice water bath till the temperature falls below 38.9 degree centigrade.

Studies reveal that high body temperature caused by a fever is different from high body temperature because of some heat related illness as the fever is the body’s reaction to some infection while heat related illness causes high body temperature when the body cannot transfer heat effectively or when external heat gain is excessive.

Heat rash occurs when the sweat ducts to the skin become blocked or swell while heat cramps is due to doing heavy muscular work in high temperature and humidity in which a patient feels pain in muscles. Cause of heat cramps is loss of sodium and chloride in the blood, said Dr. Khawaja. He said by taking sufficient fluids and avoiding high temperature for longer periods of time, the condition can be avoided.

He added that heat exhaustion is milder illness than heat stroke which is generally caused by imbalance or inadequate replacement of water and salts lost in perspiration due to thermal stress. Its symptoms include dizziness, weakness and fatigue and it may be severe enough to require hospitalisation, especially in elderly. Treatment of it is only replacement of fluid and electrolytes balance, he said.

In heat syncope (fainting) occurs due to lowering of blood pressure because heat causes blood vessels to expand or dilate in result of which the body fluids move into the legs because of gravity. In this condition, less blood goes to heart and less amount of blood goes to brain. “Treatment of syncope is simple. The patient is made to lie in the shade with the head slightly down. Recovery occurs usually within five to 10 minutes,” said Dr. Khawaja.

He said to avoid heavy burden of patients with heat related disorders, there is a need to convince people to take certain precautionary measures and to avoid hot environments and exposure to sun at the hottest times as much as possible.