PUNE: According to statistics provided by the Health Department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), a total of 126 cases of fever of an unknown origin have been recorded in the city from January 1 to April 7.

Besides this, six cases of enteric fever have been recorded by the PMC, along with 155 cases of diarrhoea. City-based doctors said the rising cases of fever and dehydration are mainly because of the change in weather conditions and high fluctuation in the minimum and maximum temperatures.

Speaking about these issues, Dr Kavita Krishna, senior consultant physician, Sahyadri Superspeciality Hospital, Hadapsar, said with the change in climatic conditions, the pattern of viruses also changes, which can cause fever and diarrhoea.

“During higher temperatures, the enteric viruses survive better. These viruses can cause gastrointestinal disorders. As a precaution, people must ensure that they do not go from higher temperatures outside to very low temperatures like air-conditioned rooms all of a sudden. Drinking water, which is at room temperature, avoiding eating stale food and keeping oneself hydrated is important during summer,” said Dr Krishna.

Similar views were shared by Dr KJ Singh from Jehangir Hospital in the city.

“Health issues such as fever, dehydration, diarrhoea are mainly due to climatic variations and are normally reported during the start of the summer season when the temperature is rising. During this rise in temperature, the variation between minimum and maximum temperatures keeps changing, due to which certain viruses become active and cause these diseases,” said Singh.

City-based Dr Dinesh Lalwani advised more consumption of seasonal fruits as they contain more water.

“Prevention is better than cure. So, some simple steps can help beat the heat. The best way to stay fit in this case is to increase immunity. One can also eat seasonal fruits and dry fruits to keep healthy. However, one must not hesitate to visit a physician if things go out of hand,” said Lalwani.