Heat wave grips Delhi: Watch out for these heat-related ailments, safety measures

New Delhi: As cities across the country, including the national capital, continued to reel under intense heat, cases of heat-related illnesses such as fatigue and fainting, diarrhoea-vomiting, high grade fever, allergies and conjunctivitis, have also increased.

According to doctors, children being smaller and weighing lesser, their ability to tolerate stress of heat or cold is more affected than adults. Besides, they also build up more heat than adults.

Also, as per an article on International Journal of Sports Medicine, while adults may cope well with heat or cold, children may not have the same tolerance.

The health impacts of heat waves typically involve dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. You may watch out for the signs and symptoms that may follow:

• Heat cramps - Ederna (swelling) and syncope (fainting) generally accompanied by fever below 39*C i.e.102*F.
• Heat exhaustion - Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and sweating.
• Heat stroke - Body temperatures of 40*C i.e. 104*F or more along with delirium, seizures or coma. This is a potential fatal condition

Both children and dults should should take precautionary measures to reduce the impact during the heat wave as well as prevent serious ailment or death because of heat stroke. Maintaining body's fluid balance, which is an essential defence, should be adopted. Taking steps like wearing caps and glasses when returning from school or going outside, avoiding high-protein food and not eating stale food are can be beneficial and help you avoid hospital visits.