Heatwave alert: In the last 72 hours, 5 deaths have been reported in Delhi due to heatstroke. Temperatures continue to rise in the national capital. According to media reports, more than 10 deaths have been recorded in Noida amid severe heatwave conditions. Notably, two deaths have been reported at Safdarjung Hospital, two at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and one at Lok Nayak Hospital.
Hospitals in Delhi-NCR have been flooded with heatstroke-affected patients, prompting doctors to advise that the elderly and persons with weak immune systems stay indoors amid the scorching heat and humidity prevailing in the national capital.
“We are getting eight to 10 patients every day. There are also critical patients who need to be admitted to the ICU,” doctors said.
“Yesterday, we got two patients who were hospitalised and before that, we had four admitted in the ICU,” said Dr Ritu Saxena, deputy medical superintendent of LNJP hospital.
“The patients who are getting critical illness are elderly or have co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD), she added. We are also getting some patients from other hospitals like Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital and Satyawadi Raja Harish Chandra Hospital,” she added.
In Gurugram, CK Birla Hospital sees one to two patients per day with heat-related conditions like heat exhaustion and heat rash, though they have not treated any cases of heat stroke so far.
“Elderly patients with previous co-morbidities like diabetes and heart disease and young people indulging in excessive physical activity are more prone to heat exhaustion,” said Dr Tushar Tayal, consultant in internal medicine at CK Birla Hospital.
According to doctors, common symptoms of heat exhaustion include mild fever, excessive sweating, rapid and pounding pulse, headache, dizziness, light-headedness, muscle weakness or cramps, nausea, vomiting and rashes.
Patients suffering from heat exhaustion usually take one to two days to fully recover. Treatment mainly involves symptomatic relief through IV fluids, anti-emetics and cooling the body. Dr Tayal said there has been a significant increase in heat exhaustion cases in the last six weeks.
“Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj too has been getting around 10 patients with heatstroke through OPD visits and three are admitted daily,” said Dr Mugdha Tapadia, additional director.
“Many people come with a body temperature above 40 degrees Celsius, which is a sign of heat stroke,” said Dr Tapadia. We have observed that persons aged 55 years and above are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses, primarily due to underlying health conditions and a reduced ability to effectively regulate body temperature.”
Delhi is reeling under a scorching heat wave, with temperatures reaching 45.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, 6.4 degrees above the seasonal average.
(With agency inputs)