KOLKATA, May 24 -- For the past three days, Sumanta Adak, a bank employee, has been bedridden. He has a runny nose and high fever, but it is the unbearable body ache that is troubling him the most. Dr Swapan Biswas, secretary of the Service Doctors' Forum, said rising cases of sore throat, fever and heatstroke are being reported amid the extreme heatwave in the state. "Cough, cold, fever and skin allergies are common during this weather due to temperature fluctuations.

We have a tendency to switch on the air conditioner the moment we enter our homes. This fluctuation in temperature is the main cause of sore throat and fever," he said.

West Bengal is reeling under a severe heatwave, with the state facing a dangerous combination of heat and humidity. According to Dr Tirtha Pratim Purkait, MBBS, MD (Gen Med), HOD at Ruby General Hospital, extreme changes in temperature and the body trying to adapt to the heat increase the risk of viral influenza, while exposure to environmental pollution during a dry summer can increase the risk of naso-bronchial allergies. "Wearing a protective mask, avoiding sudden exposure to extremely cold temperatures or water, maintaining meticulous hand hygiene and following good personal hygiene practices can protect us from these hazards," he said.

Doctors also cautioned those who work outdoors for long hours in the heat.

"People engaged in professions such as agriculture and construction work, firefighters, journalists, police and military personnel, and athletes are more prone to heatstroke. Any untreated heat exhaustion in these groups can lead to heatstroke," said Dr Purkait.

Dr Biswas said that precaution is the best way to reduce the risk of heatstroke, especially in a state like Bengal where humidity is the real torment. The doctor advised people to take breaks in between work and use umbrellas while stepping out. He also suggested carrying a water bottle while outdoors. "Those who need to work in the heat should rest in shaded areas at regular intervals and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration," he said.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.