Due to changing temperatures and humid summer in Punjab, the outbreak of seasonal diseases has started increasing once again. Government hospitals are seeing an increase in cases of fever-related illnesses, respiratory infections and stomach disorders. According to doctors, this seasonal wave returns worryingly every year. Acute febrile illness is not a single disease, but a condition arising with sudden high fever which can include many types of diseases.
Punjab According to doctors at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such conditions can be caused by viral, bacterial or parasitic infections. Many times patients reach the hospital with fever as the main symptom, whereas the root cause of the infection is not clear in the initial stages.
Water borne diseases increased in Punjab
Cases of water-borne and respiratory diseases were also reported. 1,396 cases of enteric fever were registered, on which claims of ₹30.47 lakh were made. ₹11.06 lakh was spent on 377 cases of pneumonia, while ₹9.24 lakh was spent on 326 cases of acute bronchitis. At the same time, the cases of diseases which are often discussed during monsoon remained relatively limited.
Only 12 cases of dengue were reported, resulting in a claim of ₹40,880. Only 3 cases of malaria, 6 cases of chikungunya, and 4 cases of heat stroke were reported, reflecting the relatively low number of extreme heat-related hospitalizations. However, public health experts are advising to avoid any kind of carelessness. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, seasonal outbreaks can change rapidly depending on rainfall, increasing numbers of mosquitoes and local sanitation conditions.
Seasonal disease is seen in OPD every year
Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital, Patiala, Dr. Vikas Goyal said that this situation reflects the normal seasonal pressure seen in OPD every year. He also said that most of the cases can be easily handled at the primary health care level. He said that due to extreme heat, cases of acute febrile illness, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, respiratory infections and skin and eye allergies increase. Due to hot weather, people often delay treatment, due to which the situation can become serious.
Dr. Vikas Goyal said that Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana is proving to be a big relief for the patients as they are getting cashless treatment by getting admitted to the hospital without any financial burden. He said, this scheme ensures that patients can get timely treatment without worrying about upfront money. Many lives can be saved by timely diagnosis and treatment, because people do not delay treatment when financial constraints are removed.
Small children are easily vulnerable to infections
Children remain most sensitive in extreme heat and humid weather. Dr. Shashi Kant Dhir, Head of the Department of Pediatrics, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, warned that infants and young children are easily vulnerable to infections. He told that symptoms like not eating properly, frequent vomiting, rapid breathing, dehydration, seizures and persistent fever should never be ignored. He specifically said that any fever in an infant under three months of age should be treated as an immediate medical emergency.
Dr. Shashi Kant Dhir also said that the role of parents, Asha workers, Anganwadi workers and schools is very important in preventing the spread of infection through awareness campaigns, hygiene education, vaccination and mosquito control measures. For now, as Punjab prepares for another long summer, crowded hospital corridors are a reminder that seasonal diseases continue to pose a major challenge to both families and the public health system.
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