As temperature fluctuates, Gurugram sees rise in cases of gastrointestinal diseases

According to the doctors, in higher temperatures bacteria causing gastrointestinal infections thrive and their growth is helped by humidity and rainfall.

Hospital admissions for gastrointestinal diseases rose in the last 10 days due to varying temperatures in Gurugram, said doctors in the city. They explained that in higher temperatures, bacteria causing gastrointestinal infections thrive and their growth is helped by humidity and rainfall.

Gurugram’s Civil Hospital saw a 60% rise in the number of cases of stomach infections in the last 10 days. (Sanjeev Verma/HT File Photo)

The past week saw intermittent rainfall activity as a result of an active western disturbance, which led to the maximum temperature oscillating between 34 and 39 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

While the days saw high temperatures, dust storms followed by rain brought down the mercury during the evening. Humidity levels averaged around 70% during the past week.

The Civil Hospital in Civil Lines saw a 60% rise in the number of cases of stomach infections in the last 10 days. The hospital, which sees about 100 such cases in a week on an average, attended to around 163 patients — mostly children — between May 10 and 19, according to officials.

Private hospitals in the city too reported a rise of more than 50% in the number of patients suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.

Juhi Dayal, an internal medicine specialist at a private hospital, said she would see around five to six patients every day, but the number has risen to more than 10 for a week. “While this number rises every summer, it doesn’t cross more than five to six patients a day. However, because of the rainfall and humidity along with the heat, such cases have risen,” she said.

“More people are coming in with weakened digestion and food-borne diseases. I have been admitting about 15 people every four days this past week. This number would be around two or three a few weeks earlier,” said Dr Vivek Nangia, a gastroenterologist in the city. He added that most people are coming in with complaints of stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting. “High day temperatures also induce physical stress, which causes flares of inflammatory bowel disease,” he said.

Gastrointestinal infections can be acquired through various means, such as person-to-person contact, food, water and direct exposure to faecal wastes. As water consumption is higher during the hot seasons, this may increase the transmission of water-borne bacteria, according to experts. Rainfall can also contaminate water supplies with either human or animal faecal pathogens, studies suggest.

Diarrheal diseases, although preventable and treatable, are the second leading global cause of death among children under five years of age, according to the World Health Organisation (who).

“Intake of water should be increased during this time,” Dayal recommended, adding that she has been seeing more than 10 patients every day complaining of stomach-related problems. “High humidity levels reduce the capability of the body to digest, which is why one should avoid heavy and oily snacks as these could lead to an upset stomach,” she said, adding that dairy and milk products are also not easily digestible and should be avoided.