Change in weather conditions calls for precautionary measures

Rawalpindi: A continuous change in weather conditions and a rapid variation in temperature between day and night may cause spread of certain infections and give rise to complications among people living with immunodeficiency along with chronic patients who are suffering from cardiac problems, diabetes and hypertension.

Many health experts say that it is time for people to take extraordinary precautionary measures to avoid health threats as the incidences of a number of viral infections are already on the rise and the allied hospitals in town including Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital are receiving significant number of patients with infections including sore throat, colds, flu and diarrhoea as well.

It is worth mentioning here that every year, the public sector hospitals register the trend of shifting of infections from respiratory tract ailments to gastrointestinal problems along with water and food borne infections before the advent of summer. Most of the chronic patients including those suffering from diabetes, cardiac problems and hypertension require change in routine along with medication at the time of change in weather conditions and it is better for them to visit their physicians before time to get proper advice.

Chronic patients must use warm clothing properly at the time of morning, evening and night as the fall in temperature may cause problems for them. Experts say that careless attitude at the time of change in weather conditions may cause certain complications among cardiac patients like uncontrolled blood pressure.

It is not merely the change in weather conditions that is culprit instead it is the careless attitude of the general public that causes certain infections to go on the rise at the time of weather transition.

A number of infections, hitting population in the region at the time, can be avoided by following simple precautionary measures particularly by consuming safe drinking water and fresh food. The spring season has almost set in and the winter season is about to pass off and it is time when the leftover food may get contaminated if kept in open for longer period of time.

Experts say that in the next few days, the weather conditions would not be suitable for keeping leftover food in open for hours. It is time for individuals to consume food while fresh as the time has come to keep leftover food in refrigerator in time to save it from contamination.

The food items being sold by vendors in unhygienic conditions may cause certain infections in the existing weather conditions and the best option for individuals particularly children is to avoid bad dietary habits. The consumption of unsafe food item from vendors operating in open in unhygienic conditions must be avoided. To avoid sore throat and other respiratory tract infections, individuals should avoid drinking cold water, cold drinks and sore foodstuff.

The trend of health threats witnessed in the last few years at this point in time in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi hints that the population in this region of the country would be facing a greater threat of spread of gastroenteritis in the coming weeks. Experts say that an expected outbreak of gastroenteritis can be avoided if sufficient awareness is created among public at the time.

Health experts suggest that in the existing weather conditions, people should consume boiled water and hygienic food to avoid diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal infections. Experts say that those who are suffering from any kind of pollen or weed allergy should avoid dust and avoid using cold water to avoid complications.