Heat-related illnesses rise

ELDERLY PATIENTS, IN PARTICULAR, COME CONFUSED, DEHYDRATED, WITH RAPID HEART RATES AND LOW SODIUM—CLASSIC SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION

- Rupsa Chakraborty

MUMBAI: As temperatures surge past seasonal norms, major hospitals in Mumbai are seeing a steep rise—up to 25% compared to the previous year—in cases of heat-related illness and viral infection. Doctors say the overlap of symptoms related to heat exhaustion and viral illness is making diagnosis complicated, often prolonging recovery.

"We've seen a 10–15% spike in patients with heat-related conditions such as dehydration, fainting spells, and exhaustion," said Dr Raj Kishore Agarwal, senior consultant in general medicine at Gleneagles Hospital, Parel. "That's almost a 10% rise from the same time last year—and we're still in early April."