Kolkata: The sapping humidity and the rising temperature with the maximum hovering between 37°C and 39°C since Sunday has led to a spurt in patients suffering from heat-induced illnesses across Kolkata’s hospitals. Heat fever, dehydration, exhaustion and blackouts have been the most common so far, say hospitals. Many suffering from such conditions have been admitted.One hospital has reported an admission of a patient with heatstroke.
At Manipal Hospitals, footfalls in OPD fever clinics — including cases of heat-induced diarrhoea — across its four units have gone up by 25-30%. In the past 5 days, Charnock Hospital has received 64 patients with heat-related diseases. The hospital’s emergency department has also been receiving a steady influx of such patients. “Among these patients, there are 14 children who have required medical attention due to heat-related issues,” said Charnock MD, Prashant Sharma.
Medica Superspecialty Hospital has admitted five for heat exhaustion over the last few days. “We expect more such cases till the weather improves,” said Tanmay Banerjee, director of Medica Institute of Critical Care and Internal Medicine.
BP Poddar Hospital has received more than 50 patients with heat-induced illnesses in the last four days, including seven on Monday. “They visited our emergency ward with symptoms of dehydration and three were admitted,” said a representative. Hospital officials are urging the public to take necessary precautions.