After being hit by several heatwaves, cases of diarrhea, dehydration and pneumonia in children have increased noticeably in the Western Cape.
Western Cape Government Health spokesperson Sandra Maritz said that while the extremely hot weather can be intolerable, it is young children who often bear the brunt of it.
“The very hot conditions experienced in many parts of the Western Cape have led to a noticeable increase in the number of children brought to Western Cape Health’s facilities with symptoms like diarrhea, dehydration, and pneumonia.
Maritz said they usually see a spike in children treated for diarrheal disease from November to March.
“As we enter February, usually the hottest month, the Department is advising adults to be extra watchful over children. When your child has a runny tummy, he/she may have diarrhea.
“Unclean hands can spread viruses that cause diarrhea. During hot summer days, food can easily get spoilt. If eaten, this can also cause diarrhea, which can cause dehydration. As children can dehydrate very quickly, it can be life-threatening,” she said.
Danger signs that you should immediately get medical help include:
- If there is blood in the child’s nappy or when they use the toilette,
- If the child vomits everything
- If the child is unable to drink or breastfeed
- If the child has tremors or shakes
- If the child is short of breath or has difficulty breathing
- If the child is not as alert as usual (the child is unusually quiet, not interested in their surroundings and not upright as usual)
Sources: MSN, The World News
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