By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: There has been a significant fall in heat-related cases at clinics this year compared to the past few years as more construction companies now comply with summer health guidelines related to open work sites, say health experts.
Heat cramp and exhaustion, respiratory tract infection, rashes, and in extreme cases, heat stroke are commonly reported during summer.
Heat stroke is the most serious form of heat injury and is considered a medical emergency.
However, most cases of heat-related illnesses reported this season are minor such as intense sweating, fatigue, dizziness and weak heart beat which are symptoms of heat stress, says physicians at private clinics.
“People working outdoors or under direct sunlight experience dehydration or other heat-related illnesses. Heat cramps and exhaustion as well as rashes are common cases seen at the clinics,” said Dr Sameer Kalandan, Specialist in General/Internal Medicine.
“However, we have seen a significant fall in such cases compared to the past years. This can be due to measures taken by companies to prevent heat-related illnesses,” he added. People with minor heat related problems recover within 30 to 45 minutes if moved to a cool place and take plenty of liquid, say experts.
“We see many cases of heat exhaustion and heat stress but none is at acute level. Many patients recover by the time they reach the clinic,” said Dr Farooq Anwer, Specialist in Family Medicine, Aster Medical Centre in Old Al Ghanim. “There is a significant fall in the number of heat-related cases because workers, supervisors and companies have been educated on how to prevent such illnesses.”
Respiratory tract infection is a common condition seen among children and adults during summer.
“Respiratory tract infection and all kinds of flu are common during summer. And gastroenteritis and respiratory tract infection are more common among children during the season,” said Dr Hassan Sawaf, Consultant Pulmonologist and Intensivist at Al Ahli Hospital.
Last month, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) said there was no significant rise in the number of patients requiring emergency care at Hamad General Hospital during Ramadan, despite fasting in one of the hottest months. There was significant fall in heat-related cases last year, compared to 2014, said HMC.
HMC and the Ministry of Public Health, however, continue to remind people to take precautions and safeguard themselves against heat exhaustion and stroke throughout the hottest summer months.
The Peninsula
