Pune: With maximum temperatures surging to 37–39°C in parts of the city in the first half of March, doctors have started witnessing cases of heat exhaustion and other such related illnesses earlier than usual this year, particularly among people who spend long hours outdoors. On Monday, day temperatures in the city rose to another seasonal high — 39 degrees Celsius in Lohegaon and 37.7 degrees Celsius in Shivajinagar.Dr Hillary Rodrigues, a family physician, said he treated a heat stroke patient on Monday, indicating that the impact of rising temperatures is being seen weeks before the usual peak summer period. “One patient came with very high fever of around 103°F, severe headache and low blood pressure with no other complaints. He works as a delivery personnel and was out in the sun most of the time, so this was a case of suspected heat stroke due to prolonged exposure. We are also seeing many patients with severe headache, high fever, dehydration and solar dermatitis, where rashes appear on exposed parts like the neck and arms. Headache, warm body and dehydration are common signs of heat exhaustion,” he said. Physicians said such cases are usually seen later in the season, but this year they have started appearing weeks earlier. Dr Aditya Bari, physician and diabetologist at Bari Specialty Clinic, said he has been seeing heat exhaustion patients almost every day for the past few weeks. “Heat exhaustion is a mild form of heat-related illness seen in people who travel a lot on two-wheelers or stay outdoors without adequate protection. They develop fatigue, weakness, body ache and feel exhausted very quickly because of dehydration and heat loss through sweating,” he said. He said the timing of the cases is unusual. “Normally, we start seeing such patients after mid-April or towards the end of April and May. But this time, we are seeing them in the first half of March itselfl,” Bari said. Doctors added that along with exhaustion, dehydration and stomach infections are also rising as people consume beverages from roadside stalls to cope with the heat. “There is an increase in dehydration as well as gastroenteritis cases. In hot weather, juices and drinks kept outside spoil quickly, and unhygienic storage can lead to food infections,” Bari said. Data from the state health department showed no heat stroke cases reported till March 8. Doctors, however, said patients with heat exhaustion and suspected heat stroke have already started visiting clinics, and recent cases may get added to the state records after routine reporting updates. Dr Prasad Biware, head of the department and consultant in internal medicine at Manipal Hospital, Baner, said heat-related illnesses are usually uncommon this early in the season. “Heat stroke cases are usually uncommon in Feb and even in March we see very few. This year, some patients have come not with typical heat stroke symptoms but with dehydration, loose motions and vomiting,” he said. Doctors said the change in season from winter to summer is also leading to a rise in infections. Dr Aniket Joshi, physician and intensivist at Lopmudra Hospital, said respiratory infections have increased in recent weeks with the seasonal transition. “With the change of season, we are seeing more viral infections, and some of these are leading to pneumonia. Bronchitis is common every year, but we are also seeing pneumonia cases, which is slightly unusual,” he said. “We saw one patient with heat exhaustion after he had to walk in the afternoon between 12 and 1pm. His blood pressure had dropped due to dehydration, which can lead to hypovolemic shock. This is not heat stroke but exhaustion due to heat and fluid loss. Due to the sudden rise in afternoon temperature, people are getting dehydrated ,” Joshi said.
