Exploring the Impact of Heat Waves on Infectious Diseases

Heat waves are extreme weather conditions characterized by a prolonged period of excessively hot climate, frequently accompanied by high humidity. These events significantly affect human health, including increasing the risk of infectious disease transmission.

The mix of high temperatures and humidity can make favorable conditions for the survival and spread of pathogens, as well as exacerbate existing health issues, leading to a higher rate of infectious or noninfectious diseases.

Dr Neha Mishra, Specialist, Infectious Disease, Manipal Hospital, shares a list of diseases that normally occur in this season and discusses measures to mitigate these impacts.

1. Skin diseases like fungal infections like ringworm infections can occur all the more normally in warm climates after a bout of sweating. Hence, it's prudent to have increased cleanliness including keeping the skin dry and keeping up with good cleanliness. The personal items like towels, razors, and clothing of an infected individual mustn't be shared with anybody, and the patient is adequately treated to contain the disease.

2. Gastrointestinal disease usually leads to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, loose motion, and abdominal pain. Food poisoning including viral diarrhea, cholera, and enteric fever is more common in summer. They happen because of the consumption of contaminated food or water. Avoiding the risk concerning the consumption of non-hygienic food and contaminated water is of the utmost importance. This disease can lead to complications like dehydration and multisystem involvement. They require medical attention and treatment at the earliest to prevent complications associated.

3. Viral Infections - Certain viruses Like Rubella, and enterovirus can generally cause a self-limiting disease in otherwise healthy individuals. These diseases are hard to recognize only based on symptoms and are predominantly treated symptomatically. Indeed, even viral respiratory infections, hepatitis, and conjunctivitis are more normal in the summer season.

4. Hyperthermia And Heat Stroke - characterized by a rise in body temperature above the normal diurnal range. It occurs because of the failure of normal body thermoregulation. It very well may be non-exertional or exertional. Exertional heat Illness occurs mostly in young and generally healthy individuals who exert themselves in the hot environment, individuals like construction workers, firefighters, mountain climbers, and athletes are normally affected. The risk factors for these are poor physical fitness, lack of acclimatization, strenuous exercise, lack of hydration, obesity, or any accompanying acute infection. Certain individuals of specific kinds of medication, for instance, diuretics or antihistaminic drugs, may put a person at higher risk of developing exertional heart illness. The severity of this may not be apparent at the initial presentation and the duration of core temperature elevation above is directly related to the result of the illness. The temperature of an individual might rise above 101 - 104 degrees Celsius.

The range goes from heat cramps, heat syncope, and heat exhaustion, and the most severe form being heat stroke. Heat stroke is characterized by a core temperature of 104 and multisystem involvement specifically central nervous system dysfunction. The diseases can be prevented by basic measures.

1. Remain hydrated.

To prevent these symptoms from setting in, all you need is to simply chug down a lot of water at regular intervals. You can likewise opt for tender coconut water or 'lassi. Remember to munch on as many watery fruits as possible. Fruits like watermelons, grapes, papayas, or mangoes can replenish your body's water supply.

2. Stay indoors as far as possible and avoid strenuous exercise in the scorching heat.

3. If traveling, wear a good sunscreen and protect yourself from direct sunlight. You can apply a good sunscreen lotion with a stronger SPF about 20 minutes before getting out in the sun. Also, make sure that the skin is moisturized properly.

4. Choose lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. Unfurl your umbrella when you step outside, try not to go out between 12 early afternoon and 3 PM, and wear agreeable cotton clothing.

5. If there are any symptoms suggestive of infection like fever, body ache, cold cough, diarrhea, or jaundice, seek immediate medical assistance. Bigger medical problems can be prevented by simple steps and awareness regarding diseases that might occur during extreme weather conditions.