Pune: With daytime temperatures rising sharply and weather conditions fluctuating between cloudy, humid, and sudden heat, city doctors are reporting a significant spike in ailments typically seen much later in the year.Cases of upper respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, and dehydration — usually peaking in late March or April — are already surfacing in large numbers this Feb.Sushmita Dutta, who runs a clinic in Dhayari, said upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and dehydration cases have surged over the past fortnight. “We are seeing a rise in dry coughs, throat irritation, and high-grade fevers,” she said.Dutta attributed the spike to the erratic weather. “The shift has been abrupt — shifting from cloudy and humid to suddenly hot. These rapid changes allow airborne infections to flourish. More surprisingly, we are seeing heat exhaustion and gastro cases in Feb, which is quite early,” she added.The trend is reflected across the city. Prakash Shende, consultant physician and professor at Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, said he is treating four to five gastroenteritis patients and two to three dehydration cases daily.“Typically, these numbers appear towards the end of March. This year, they started in early Feb,” Shende said. He said rising temperatures contribute to faster food contamination, leading to gastro infections. He also noted an unusual rise in urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are generally linked to high-heat conditions.The transition phase is also prolonging viral illnesses. “Flu symptoms and chronic coughs are ongoing. Some patients have been struggling with a persistent cough for two to three weeks,” Shende said.Prasad Bhate, head of gastroenterology at Manipal Hospital, Baner, said, “The frequency of gastro cases has doubled. While the primary cause is contaminated food and water, high temperatures contribute indirectly as food spoils much faster in this heat,” he said.Family physician Avinash Bhondwe highlighted the role of “diurnal” temperature gaps — the difference between day and night temperatures. “Evenings are still cool, around 17°C, but afternoons are getting very hot. This fluctuation creates favorable conditions for respiratory viruses to flourish,” he said.Bhondwe added that environmental factors are compounding the health crisis. “For over a year now, we have observed that the combination of high pollution levels and respiratory viruses is leading to a much larger volume of infections than in previous years,” he said.
