Heatwave triggers surge in gastroenteritis cases in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is witnessing a rise in gastroenteritis and other water-borne diseases amid intense summer heat. Hospitals report increased admissions, with a localised outbreak in Secunderabad linked to sewage contamination. Officials urge precautions like boiling water and maintaining hygiene.

Hyderabad: With summer intensity, several parts of the city, especially Secunderabad, have reported a significant rise in water-borne infections, mainly cases of gastroenteritis.

Due to the ongoing heatwave, Gandhi and Osmania General Hospital are witnessing about a 20 per cent rise in hospital admissions with patients complaining of various ailments related to gut health in the last week or so.

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Fever Hospital, Gandhi and Osmania General Hospital are receiving a steady influx of patients reporting severe dehydration, vomiting, and abdominal pain. According to reports, in Chilkalguda area of Secunderabad, a localised outbreak in Chintabai and Doodibavi has affected over 65 residents. Public health officials have blamed seepage of sewage water into the water pipelines in and around Chilkalguda for the cases of gastroenteritis.

Diagnostic facilities in Hyderabad and Secunderabad are reporting an increase of 20 to 30 per cent in patients diagnosed with acute diarrhoeal diseases (ADD), severe acidity conditions, and food poisoning. This increase in patients is primarily due to the rapid increase in bacterial growth within food and water as a result of these weather changes.

“Due to the high fluctuation in temperatures, we are currently seeing an increase not only in gastrointestinal infections but also a change in the nature and the causative agents as well. The food spoils much faster in such weather. Hence, any mild contamination of the food or water may cause infections. On the other hand, dehydration affects the body’s ability to digest, resulting in diarrhoea or constipation”, says Dr Ankita Srivastava, Chief (Labs) at Neuberg Diagnostics, Hyderabad.

Senior doctors said during the summer, both water and food get spoiled very quickly. A few days ago, the Public Health department issued an advisory urging the residents to boil drinking water, maintain strict hand hygiene, and use Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) at the first sign of illness.