Madurai: Fewer summer ailments now, thanks to precautions

MADURAI

: The prevalence of summer-related diseases has been very low this year, according to the doctors, who said that cases of diseases like chickenpox and acute diarrhoeal disease are comparatively less than the same time last year.


Dr A Kannan, head of paediatrics and

neonatology

at Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre (MMHRC), said that he was receiving less cases this year ever since the start of the summer, adding he had attended less than 10 chickenpox cases at MMHRC till now this summer. “Luckily, there has been no major breakout of any disease. Usually, this time of the year is considered as season for diseases like chickenpox,

urinary tract infection

, amebiasis and so on. But this year, we can even say it’s a ‘non-season’ till date, despite the fact that summer started very early,” he added.

According to experts, it’s the same case at both government and private hospital and “most of the beds were free” due to less number of inpatients.

Dr K Vanitha, dean of Government Rajaji Hospital, said that only a “handful” cases of chickenpox and acute diarrhoeal diseases has been reported at the hospital this season which are considered two of the most common diseases among children during summer. She warned that the general public should keep in mind that summer is set to extend for two more months and that there could be a spike in diseases any time.

“We might have only sporadic cases this year, but we don’t know when it will peak. The risk group – comprising children, elderly people, people who’re taking immunosuppressive drugs and diabetic patients – should be very careful and continue taking all precautionary measures,” she told TOI.

Owing to the scorching heat, doctors have been frequently getting cases of skin diseases, of which prickly heat and impetigo are most common.

Meanwhile, city-based homoeopathy practitioner Dr Sundari Semparuthi said it is important for people to ensure they drink enough water daily. “It might be very obvious but insufficient water could result in urinary infection, constipation problems etc. Eating vegetables with high water content is also important,” she added.

On the low incidence of summer-related diseases this year, almost all doctors unanimously said that there “was no specific reason” but that it could probably be because of increased awareness among general public and taking enough precautionary measures.