Hyderabad: Hyderabad’s government-run “basti dawakhanas” (neighborhood clinics) have seen a surge in patients due to the increasing heat in Telangana. According to doctors, people who spend too much time in the sun are experiencing increased problems like dehydration, dizziness, heatstroke, fever, and skin rashes.
According to doctors, the recent surge in temperatures has led to a surge in patients at smaller government hospitals in many cities. Most of the visitors are daily wage laborers, the elderly, children, street vendors and those working outdoors, who are most vulnerable to the intense heat.
According to officials, slum dispensaries are playing a key role in providing accessible and free healthcare services to economically disadvantaged people during the scorching heat. Mohalla clinics have become a primary center of treatment for residents in densely populated urban areas, established to ease pressure on larger hospitals.
Doctors said that due to extreme heat, people are coming to the hospital with diseases like
Headache, nausea, excessive sweating and weakness, dehydration. Doctors said that people are getting dehydrated, for which immediate water/fluids and doctor’s supervision are needed. Due to this, the demand for ORS,IV fluids and fever medicines/glucose/has increased significantly in hospitals.
Doctors advise avoiding direct sunlight during the afternoon, drinking plenty of water, wearing light cotton clothing, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms worsen. Medical teams have launched an awareness campaign in response to the growing health problems. Health workers have urged people to pay special attention to children and the elderly, as they are most at risk of becoming ill from extreme heat.
With the possibility of heat waves throughout the season, officials have urged people to take precautionary measures seriously. Doctors say that taking timely precautions during the summer can help prevent health problems.
Hyderabad has been experiencing extreme heat for the past few years, posing a serious public health concern. Experts have warned that if temperatures remain high in the coming weeks, cases of heat-related illnesses could increase.
