Dangerous diseases in children when the weather is hot

An unusually high temperature and humidity of the air entails the risk of heat exhaustion, even sunstroke, affecting a child's health.

Dr. Tran Thu Thuy - National Hospital of Pediatrics, said that heat-related diseases are when sweating is much and not fully rehydrated, leading to dehydration and cramps, while the body does not discharge enough. heat will lead to heat exhaustion, even heatstroke that needs emergency.

Cramps, heat exhaustion or heatstroke often occur in older children participating in prolonged physical activity in the hot sun, for example during sports hours. For young children, the main disease related to heat is dehydration.

1. Dehydration

Children lose water when the amount of fluid escaping through sweat and urine is greater than the amount of fluid taken. Minor dehydration, including only 2% of body weight, can also adversely affect children. Dehydration reduces the ability to regulate body temperature and thus increases the risk of other heat-related illnesses.

Manifestations of dehydration: Dry lips, thirsty, urinate little or no urine, dark, thick urine, tears without tears, children crying, uncomfortable, seem sullen, lethargic, tired . Severe cases, children show: sunken eyes, sunken nodules, nausea, vomiting, lethargy or lethargy.

Management when a child is dehydrated: If the child is suspected of having a lack of water, it is necessary to transfer the baby to a cool place, give him water. If your baby does not feel better, seek medical help.

Hot days are wary of sunstroke.

2. Heat cramps

According to Dr Thuy, hot cramps are muscle pain or muscle spasms, which often occur in the abdomen, arms or legs, when overactive in hot weather. Children who are sweating, often work hard to get cramps like this.

Excessive sweating causes the body to lose water and salt, low salt content in the muscles causing muscles to contract pain. Heat cramps can also be a sign of heat exhaustion.

When children show signs of cramps, they should stop physical activity and sit still in a shady place, drink plenty of water, continue to be physically active within a few hours after the cramps are gone to avoid falling into exhaustion. or heatstroke. Seek medical help if the condition does not improve after an hour.

3. Heat exhaustion

This is also a sign to warn during these hot and sunny days. Children with dehydration often show signs of sweating such as bathing, pale people, cramps, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, fainting, cold and moist skin, fast and weak vessels, fast and shallow breathing.

If left untreated, heat exhaustion can develop into heatstroke.

Helping children with hypothermia by measures: Give cool water, cool water, wipe people with a cool towel, take them to a place with cool fans, air conditioner, wear light and cool clothes.

4. Sunstroke

This is the most serious disease due to the hot sun. The disease occurs when the body is no longer able to control the temperature: the body temperature increases rapidly, the sweatiness is not enough to release heat, the body cannot cool itself. Body temperature can reach 39.5 degrees Celsius or higher within 10-15 minutes. Sunstroke can lead to death or permanent disability if it is not treated promptly.

Find ways to lower your child's body temperature by any means.

Symptoms of heatstroke when body temperature is high (over 39.5 degrees C), hot, red and dry skin does not sweat, fast, strong, aching headache, nausea, delirium, loss of consciousness.

Sunstroke is an emergency, which can lead to death. So Dr. Thuy advised, when seeing the children have the above signs, it is necessary to ask an ambulance caller while trying to find a way to lower the child's temperature, quickly moving the child to a shady area. Hypothermize your child by any means, for example using cool water or cool buckets of water on your body, using a wet cloth to wipe your body . If the humidity is low, you should wrap your child in a cool, wet cloth. Strong fan.

Monitor body temperature and continue cooling measures until the temperature drops to 38.5 or 39 degrees C.

The risk of heat-related illness increases in the following groups:

1. Children under 4 years of age : the ratio of body surface to body weight is higher than that of adults, making the amount of heat absorbed from the environment and the amount of heat produced during exercise are higher.
2. Children who are too young to exercise themselves to drink drinking water will depend entirely on the caregiver. Children who are old enough to drink water often forget, do not drink enough water.
3. Children with acute illness , especially fever and gastrointestinal disease.
4. Children exercise too much , especially if they are not used to the heat, too fat or not very healthy.
5. Children are taking drugs that reduce the body's ability to regulate heat , such as anti-allergic antihistamines, diuretics or psychiatric medications.
6. Children have a history of heat-related illness.