Written by Ayan Samajdar With the temperatures soaring in West Bengal by the day, parents are a worried lot since their school-going children are at an increased risk of falling sick due to heatwave or other weather-related illnesses. Heatwave-like conditions are likely to prevail at some places in West Bengal, the Indian Meteorological Department warned on Sunday. Dr Manas Gumta, general secretary of the Association of Health Service Doctors of West Bengal, said, “We sometimes feel helpless since the advice we give cannot be followed by everyone. People exposed to the direct sunlight are affected the most. People can suffer from diarrhoea, food poisoning, viral fever and heat stroke.” Sampa Paul Das, mother of a class-7 student, said, “The weather is too hot to venture outside. But my daughter has to go out as the schools are open. Children are more prone to fall sick if they venture outside." Dr Sumon Poddar, associate professor at the Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, said, “If the room temperature becomes high, the newborn babies can suffer from sudden water loss in their bodies. Children younger than two should not be taken outdoors in this weather." “If the authorities announce the summer vacations early, it would be a great relief for students. Children, especially those from underprivileged sections, should bathe from time to time in cold water. The spike in temperature can make children suffer from dehydration, kidney problems, tiredness, viral fever, cough and cold and an upset stomach,” Poddar added. “School-going children should wear light-coloured clothes, carry an umbrella and use sunglasses. They should avoid drinking cold water directly after getting exposed to such weather. Sudden change from cold to hot temperature and vice versa can make a child catch cold, cough or some other viral infection. They should avoid junk foods and instead eat fresh fruits green vegetables," added Poddar.
