Original source (on modern site) | Article images: [1]
Hyderabad: Each summer, the number of kidney patients (emergency and new cases) increases by 10-15% in the city. Of these, nearly half of them develop permanent kidney damage , requiring dialysis . dehydration , causing heat stress neuropathy. The constant addition of patients, year on year, means that dialysis centres and nephrology departments in hospitals remain full. Expose to heat and sun exposure for longer durations, not having enough drinking water, viral infections of the gastrointestinal tracks and drinking cold drinks (which have high amounts of phosphate) are leading to an increase in kidney-related emergencies, doctors warned. Already, footfalls and admissions of kidney patients requiring emergency treatment have gone up by nearly 10% at major tertiary care centres in city like Osmania General Hospital, Gandhi Hospital and Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences. While experts recommend having at least 8-10 glasses of water, avoiding direct exposure and avoiding roadside foods and drinks to prevent viral diseases, people with pre-existing conditions like obesity, diabetes, hypertension or cardiac issues make them more vulnerable. We also published the following articles recently Diabetes increases the risk of kidney disease: Common signs and tests to know How to treat heat-related illnesses? Government issues advisory What are heat-related illnesses? How to identify them and take remedy?
This primarily happens due to
At the state-run OGH, daily outpatient kidney ailment cases has gone up from 100 a few months ago to 200 now. In addition, there are 30-40 admissions per day.
With the constantly increasing numbers, no amount of facilities will be enough, she said. "Hence, we need to focus on prevention of kidney diseases in addition to treating already existing patients," she said.
"Apart from heat-related issues, having cold drinks and roadside beverages contributed to a huge jump in cases. This year, we started seeing an increase in OP cases in the month of March itself," said Dr Sree Bhushan, head of department of nephrology at NIMS.
Diabetes can lead to kidney disease known as diabetic nephropathy. Common signs include proteinuria, high blood pressure, fatigue. Early detection through tests like urinalysis, blood tests, and monitoring is crucial for management.
India is battling severe heat waves with unprecedented temperatures. The Meteorological Department issues warnings, and the government releases advisories emphasizing hydrating foods and caution against dehydrating options during the scorching summer months.
Heat-related illnesses from high temperatures, humidity, and dehydration vary in severity from heat cramps to heatstroke. Dr. Pankaj Chaudhary provides essential tips for coping with extreme heat, emphasizing hydration, shade, and awareness of symptoms.