A rush of gastro and heatstroke patients was witnessed in the hospitals as the severe heat spell prolonged in the provincial metropolis. People engaged in strenuous physical activities made the majority of heatstroke patients.
Lack of clean drinking water had increased the number of gastro patients dramatically during the last few days. A Services Hospital doctor revealed that almost 70 percent of the patients brought to the emergency this week were struck by gastroenteritis.
According to experts, susceptible individuals to heat stroke included infants and the elderly especially those suffering from heart, lungs and kidney diseases. Dehydration and exposure to sun are considered to be the major causes of heatstroke.
They said symptoms of heat stroke included nausea, fatigue, vomiting, weakness, muscle cramps and dizziness. High body temperature, rapid pulse, hallucinations, and coma are among the more severe symptoms of heatstroke, they added.
Dr Haroon of Fatima Memorial Hospital told Pakistan Today that the number of heatstroke victims was increasing day by day. He said heatstroke could prove to be fatal if not treated properly and promptly and urged the people to take precautionary measures against heat-related ailments.
He advised the people prone to heatstroke and dehydration to remain in shady areas during intense heat and drink a lot of water.
Blistering heat has increased the sale of unhygienic drinks, which is raising serious health hazards to the citizens.
Dr Zaki of Services Hospital told Pakistan Today that the majority of patients he treated on Wednesday were struck by gastroenteritis. He advised the patients to rush to hospital as soon as they feel any heatstroke or gastro symptoms.
Other than gastro and heatstroke, citizens were also suffering from migraine and food poisoning in the intense heat. Doctors suggested the patients avoid drinking contaminated water and urged them to avoid unhygienic food and drinks.
A gastro patient, Waseem said that the lack of clean drinking water forced him to depend on water provided by the Water and Sanitation Agency pipelines which might well contain contaminated water. He criticised the government’s failure to provide potable water to the public.