Diarrhoea & dehydration case count surges amid soaring temperatures

Pune: Dehydration and gastrointestinal illnesses have increased sharply across the city amid soaring temperatures.Diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort cases have surged significantly over the past few days. Doctors said the extreme heat was accelerating fluid and salt loss from the body, while unsafe food and water consumption was compounding the problem.Dr Prakash Shende, consultant physician and professor at Dr DY Patil Medical College, said he was now seeing 10 to 15 patients daily with loose motions, compared to just three to four earlier. "The heat is causing significant fluid and salt loss, including sodium depletion, leading to exhaustion. At the same time, many people are consuming outside water or cold drinks to cool down, which is contributing to a surge in gastrointestinal infections," he said.Doctors explained that high temperatures create ideal conditions for bacterial growth in food and beverages, particularly those sold uncovered on streets. Dr Sanjay Salunkhe, gastroenterologist at Jehangir Hospital, said items like juices and cut fruits could quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria."Anything left uncovered or allowed to ferment in this heat can become a source of infection. Juices and similar items act as culture mediums for bacteria. So, both contaminated food and drinks are contributing to digestive illnesses," he said.Dr Salunkhe said dehydration was setting in faster in this weather, worsening the impact of infections. "Not only are people more prone to infections, complications also develop more quickly because of rapid dehydration. Patients may start with simple diarrhoea, but if symptoms like nausea develop, it can indicate worsening metabolic imbalance or toxin build-up, signalling that the condition is becoming more serious," he said."We recently saw a case of a woman travelling between Mumbai and Pune. She had limited access to fluids during the journey. By the time she reached, she was significantly dehydrated, and it had begun affecting her kidney function. In such weather, dehydration can set in quickly, and if not corrected in time, it can lead to complications, especially in those with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or hypertension," he added.Paediatricians are also witnessing sustained and more prolonged cases among children this season. Dr Anay Deshmukh, a city-based paediatrician, said gastrointestinal infections had been lasting longer and recurring more frequently than usual this time. "Children are coming in with persistent abdominal pain, vomiting and repeated infections over weeks," he said.He attributed this to multiple seasonal factors, including exposure to poorly maintained swimming pools, use of tanker water with uncertain quality, and excessive consumption of seasonal fruits like watermelon, muskmelon and grapes. "While these fruits are healthy, overconsumption can lead to osmotic diarrhoea, especially in children," he said.Doctors said while such infections occurred every summer, the intensity and duration appeared higher this year because of the combination of extreme heat, faster food spoilage and inadequate hydration. They advised residents to avoid roadside or uncovered food, ensure safe drinking water, maintain adequate hydration with water, oral rehydration solutions and balanced meals to prevent complications.Dr Aditya Bari, physician and diabetologist, said, "Diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal issues are seen every summer. These are typically linked to consumption of outside juices and cold drinks, especially in the heat, when food and beverages spoil faster. People tend to consume such items to cool down, but that increases the risk of infections."