Chennai: With Chennai and its neighbourhood recording temperatures beyond 40 degree celsius the skin infection rate among the Chennaiites has recorded a sharp increase during this May. The number of patients visiting Royapettah Government Hospital for skin ailments has surged from 3 to 30 in a day. During winter the cases are in single digits, but as temperature soars the caseload increases, said the resident medical officer, RGH. Doctors at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital also confirmed that there is a steady increase in the number of skin infections.
However, the good news is that the incidence of dehydration had come down in Greater Chennai during this summer. Dehydration cases referred to the government hospitals in Chennai has reduced according to the latest data available with the director of public health. “Usually at this time of the year, when temperatures soar high, at times even hitting beyond 40 degrees celsius, the government hospitals across the city witnessed a significant rise in the number of patients suffering from dehydration and diarrhoea.
Though this year, the hospitals have seen some rise in the number, the cases have come down by a huge margin comparatively due to increased awareness levels,” said a medical officer at the RGGH. “Our main focus this year was on waterborne diseases that can have fatal consequences.” “We mandated water chlorination and put rigid restrictions on taking water from unsafe water sources. At times, when the water level in one water body decreases, people tend to opt for unsafe sources for survival,” said Director of Public Health Department (PHD), Dr Kolandaisamy.
The health department is also keeping a tab on the prevalence of typhoid, lepto and diarrhoea this season. The doctors say that social media has played a major role in spreading the news to the public and also receiving news about the violation of norms. “People are more aware of dehydration now as they swipe through it in their palm-sized gadgets daily. Also, we immediately receive a picture in case of any malpractice,” Kolandaisamy added. “When the temperature soars, our body, tends to perspire more losing water and salt content. This might seem simple at the start, but can prove fatal if left unattended” warned another government doctor.
Avoid sugar-loaded drinks and opt for fluids like lemonade, coconut water and buttermilk, he recommended. The Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital near Central also has seen a rise in skin infections. The doctors said that as many awareness campaigns were held for dehydration, it is high time to do the same for skin related issues.
