Variation in temperature may give rise to certain infections

Sore throat, diarrhoea and gastroenteritis

Patients of cardiac problems, diabetes and hypertension may face problems

Rawalpindi: The change in weather conditions particularly the variation in temperature between day and night may give rise to certain infections while creating problems for chronic patients including those who have already been suffering from cardiac problems, diabetes and hypertension.

The allied hospitals in town including Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital have already started receiving significant number of patients with infections including sore throat, diarrhoea and gastroenteritis.

Reporting of cardiac patients mostly with the complaints of uncontrolled blood pressure is also on the rise. Majority of population do not take variation of temperature between day and night as serious as the phenomenon is and it is one of the major factor behind rise in certain infections, said Senior Registrar at Department of Medicine in HFH Dr. Zahid Minhas while talking to ‘The News’.

He said the allied hospitals including HFH are receiving an additional burden of patients with sore throat and other respiratory tract infections while the number of patients with complications involving blood pressure is also on the rise.

It is important that the incidence of gastroenteritis is also on the rise however majority of patients with gastro and like problems are children. The trend of health threats witnessed in last few years hints that the population in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi may face greater threat of gastroenteritis in the coming weeks, said Dr. Minhas.

He added that an expected outbreak of gastroenteritis in the coming weeks can be avoided if sufficient awareness is created among public at the time. Every year, the trend of infections shifts from respiratory tract infections to gastrointestinal problems along with water and food borne infections before the advent of summer.

Gastroenteritis is water and food borne bacterial infection that can also be transmitted to eatables through flies in unhygienic conditions. The main symptoms of the infection include vomiting, fever, severe diarrhoea with dehydration and lowering of blood pressure.

Dr. Minhas said that 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 for that matter, they should visit their physicians to seek advice.

Health experts say that chronic patients must use warm clothing at the time of evening and night as the fall in temperature at night may cause problems for them. It is important that hot weather conditions help grow bacteria faster and according to health experts, people should start refrigerating leftover food properly particularly at daytime when the mercury level goes up to a significant level.

Dr. Minhas said that people should be made aware of the fact that intermittent spells of heat along with repeated fall in temperature due to rain spells increase chances of incidence of seasonal infections particularly related to chest and throat.

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