Banke: Nepalgunj, a major city in Banke,Lumbini, has been experiencing extremely hot weather in recent days. The soaring temperatures have taken a toll on children, who are suffering from seasonal flu, viral fever, and other heat-related illnesses.
Pediatrician at Bheri Hospital, Dr Pratima Khadka, said their outpatient department (OPD) receives more than 50 children with complaints of fever, common cold, diarrhea, and intestinal issues. Out of these cases, around four to five children require hospitalization.
To prevent heat-related illnesses among children, doctors recommend measures such as wearing masks, practicing hand-washing before attending and feeding children, drinking plenty of clean water, consuming liquid food, avoiding heat exposure, staying indoors, maintaining cleanliness, and following hygienic habits. It typically takes four to five days for a child to recover from seasonal flu.
Dr Bishnu Kumar Thapa, a child specialist at Care City Hospital in Nepalgunj, said that they are seeing seven to eight cases of common cold and viral flu among children each day.
Due to the increasing number of heat-related illnesses, schools are expected to suspend classes temporarily. Dr Roma Bora, a child specialist at Nepalgunj Kanti Arogya Hospital, said that the hospital receives 15-20 children with heat-related illnesses daily, with the majority being between three and eight years old.
Many schools in Nepalgunj have already closed down due to the rising temperatures, and this break will be adjusted within the summer vacation period.
Nepalgunj sub-metropolis has directed local schools to close temporarily, and other local levels are also preparing to implement summer breaks. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in Nepalgunj has reported that temperatures in the area can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius during the summer.
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