Calcutta’s Heatwave: A Silent Killer Lurking in the Shadows

Calcutta, a city known for its cultural richness and historical significance, is currently grappling with an unprecedented health crisis. Over the past few days, doctors across the city have been inundated with patients complaining of severe dehydration, lack of concentration, and appetite loss.

The Heatwave’s Impact

The city has been under the grip of an extreme heatwave for a fortnight, with the maximum temperature consistently hovering around 40 degrees Celsius. This prolonged exposure to intense heat is causing significant health problems, particularly among the elderly.

“Elderly people with medical conditions like chronic kidney or liver disease are on fluid restrictions and diuretics. However, dehydration caused by the prolonged heat spell is forcing them to consume more fluid than advised,” said Dr. Chandramouli Bhattacharya, an infectious disease specialist at Peerless Hospital.

The Health Consequences

The excess fluid intake is leading to fluid accumulation in their bodies, resulting in breathing difficulties and even heart failure in some cases. “We have had patients recently who are complaining of breathing difficulty and even suffering from heart failure because of excess fluid accumulation,” added Dr. Bhattacharya.

Moreover, the heat-induced dehydration is exacerbating conditions such as urinary tract infection (UTI) and pneumonia. A woman in her early 70s was recently admitted to the hospital with UTI and kidney injury. “Dehydration is leading to severe manifestation of such infections. Dehydration aggravated the UTI and caused kidney injury,” Dr. Bhattacharya explained.

Daily Life Disruption

The relentless heat is also disrupting the daily lives of people. “A lot of people, even those who are young, are complaining of general weakness and lethargy. The exposure to heat is also leading to lack of appetite and lack of concentration at workplaces,” said Dr. Sauren Panja, head of critical care medicine at Narayana Health-RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences.

A Growing Concern

The situation is particularly concerning for elderly people with medical conditions such as chronic kidney disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Many are being admitted to hospitals after suffering from acute dehydration, some even at home.

The prolonged heat is also causing severe gastrointestinal infections, particularly in those who spend a long time outdoors for work. “We are getting many patients with gastrointestinal infections. The patients are saying that extreme heat has increased their water intake and circumstances are often forcing them to drink water whose quality they are not sure of,” said Dr. Amitabha Saha, head of critical care medicine at AMRI Hospitals, Mukundapur.

As the city continues to reel under the heatwave, it’s clear that the situation is more than just a weather phenomenon - it’s a public health emergency. As the mercury continues to rise, so does the need for immediate and effective measures to safeguard the health of the city’s residents.