Times of India
29 March 2011
By Umesh Isalkar
Pune, India

Difference in Day and Night Temperatures Affecting All Age Groups
March Conditions
The 20 degrees difference in the day and night temperatures the city has been experiencing in the past few days is leading to several ailments like a viral fever, stomach upset and bodyache.

"The metabolic products of viral infection create toxins which lead to symptoms like bodyache,headache and weakness. Exposure to the temperature difference is primarily the reason for a large number of viral infection cases. I see around five to six patients with viral infection every day. When it becomes hotter, the number of cases may also rise," said physician Prakash V Joshi of Joshi hospital.

"In the first three days, symptoms of viral infection are on the rise. They stabilise over the next two days and then start wearing off by the seventh day. The weakness continues for a week or two depending upon the person’s vitality and recovery capacity," Josh added.

The maximum temperature has been rising for a month. While the mornings and nights are cool, the afternoons are hot. These fluctuations make organisms grow fast compared to the steady temperature, leading to various infections. "The pollution in the city only aggravates the condition in summer and causes several ailments. People need to ward off infection during this season," Joshi said. Besides cases of throat infection and fever, child specialists in the city are also seeing cases of viral diarrhoea, viral jaundice and typhoid among children of all age groups.

Paediatrician Vijay Warad said, "There is a rise in cases of stomach ache, loose motion and vomiting. Besides, there are several cases of viral diarrhoea in infants up to one year and in children in the age-group of one to five years. Viral jaundice and cases of typhoid are also seen. The weather is also causing viral bronchitis among children."

Throat infections like pharyngitis and tonsillitis are affecting people. Besides chickenpox, skin infections like pyoderma and skin allergies like eczema are also there. Cases of body rashes, especially summer skin eruptions on the neck, forehead and on the body, are present, he added.

"In any viral infection, children should be given lot of fluids, fruits and juices. Roadside foods and water outside the home should be avoided. Boiled water should be given to children. Ice in beverages and juices from outside and ice candies which use industrial ice should be strictly avoided," said Warad.

DOS

• Drink a lot of water when you are going to be outside in the heat. Alcohol has a tendency to dry things up rather than hydrate them.
• Protect yourself from direct sunlight
• Wear sunglasses
• Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures
• Wear light clothes in lighter shades

DON’TS

• Don’t drink water from tap or roadside vends. Drink only boiled water
• Never eat cut fruits sold by the roadside
• Avoid fountain drinks and ice cubes
• Avoid eating food from the roadside
• Avoid spicy food
• Avoid drinking / smoking as they tend to cause dehydration and increase body heat

Down With Viral Infection

• Viruses can affect any part of the body or body system, and can cause infections such as the common cold, flu, gastroenteritis, chickenpox or herpes
• The gastrointestinal system is also commonly affected by viruses with symptoms such as diarrhoea and/or vomiting.
• The skin can also be infected by a viral infection such as the common wart or chickenpox. Symptoms include itchy rash, fever and headache. The rash is blister-like and usually appears on the face, scalp or torso