Ministry of Health shares warning signs of heat stroke in children; know more

"Heatstroke can develop from heat exhaustion if it is not treated right away. A person has a heatstroke when their temperature exceeds 105°F (40.5°C)," Dr Kamalesh A, Consultant Physician, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad said

Ensure your kids are hydrated this season (Source: Getty Images)

The nation is currently undergoing a severe heatwave, characterised by exceptionally high temperatures across regions like Haryana, Delhi, south Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. On Monday, Delhi recorded a scorching temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius, surpassing the seasonal average, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD anticipates that the heatwave conditions in the national capital will persist until June 15, causing further difficulties.

Keeping this extreme weather into account, the Ministry of Health on Monday released a list of warning signs of heat stroke in children. “Seek immediate medical attention if you observe any of these symptoms,” it noted.

Here are some heat stroke symptoms in children, according to the health ministry.

#BeatTheHeat pic.twitter.com/RYi0oHg8JD

— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) June 12, 2023

*Refusal to feed
*Excessive irritability
*Decreased urine output
*Dry oral mucosa and absence of tear/sunken eyes
*Lethargy/altered sensorium
*Seizures
*Bleeding from any site

Talking about heat strokes, Dr Kamalesh A, Consultant Physician, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad said, “Body heat can develop to lethal levels in extremely hot conditions, excessive humidity levels, and other circumstances. Heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke may result from this. Heatstroke can develop from heat exhaustion if it is not treated right away. A person has a heatstroke when their temperature exceeds 105°F (40.5°C). Heatstroke can be fatal and requires immediate emergency medical attention.”

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If your child is suffering from a heat stroke, follow these measures, as suggested by Dr Kamalesh.

*If your child has symptoms of heatstroke, get emergency medical care right away.
*Bring the child indoors or into the shade right away.
*Undress the child and have the child lie down. Raise their feet slightly.
*If the child is alert, place in a lukewarm bath, spray with lukewarm water, or put cool clothes on their skin.
*If the child is alert and coherent, give frequent sips of cool, clear fluids.
*If the child is vomiting, turn onto their side to prevent choking.

To prevent such heat-related illnesses, the expert suggested teaching children to always drink plenty of liquids before and during any activity in hot and sunny weather — even if they aren’t thirsty. “Make sure kids wear light-coloured, loose clothing in warm weather. Remind them to look for shaded areas and rest often while outside. Wear sunscreen and hats to avoid getting sunburnt. Don’t let kids do intense activities outdoors during the hottest hours of the day. Do not leave them alone in a parked car,” Dr Kamalesh concluded.

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