UAE Doctors Warn: Children at Risk of Heat Stroke Deaths

Post by: Elena Malik

Amidst the rising temperatures and approaching summer season, medical experts are sounding a clarion call to parents, emphasizing the critical need to safeguard children from the sweltering heat and direct sunlight exposure.

The urgency surrounding this issue has escalated following a tragic incident involving the death of a child who was inadvertently left locked inside a car, succumbing to heatstroke.

Doctors are particularly concerned about the vulnerability of children to heat exhaustion and subsequent heatstroke, citing physiological differences between children and adults. Dr. Osama Elsayed Rezk Elassy, a clinical assistant professor and consultant at the Centre for Pediatrics and Neonatology at Thumbay University Hospital, highlights that children possess faster metabolisms and smaller bodies with higher surface area-to-mass ratios, rendering them more susceptible to heat absorption. Additionally, their underdeveloped sweat glands and limited fluid reserves pose challenges in regulating body temperature efficiently.

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Infants and younger children, in particular, face heightened risks due to their inability to regulate body temperature independently and their limited capacity to recognize and communicate heat-related symptoms. Dr. Noha Mohamed Ali Kharie, a pediatric consultant at Zulekha Hospital, underscores the impact of children's faster metabolisms and slower sweat rates, exacerbating their vulnerability to heat-related illnesses.

Furthermore, children's outdoor activities coupled with their potential lack of judgment to moderate exertion in hot weather further compound the risk of heatstroke. Dr. Kharie emphasizes that children are more susceptible to heat and humidity, often experiencing more severe symptoms and struggling to cool down effectively.

Recognizing the symptoms of heat exhaustion and dehydration in children is paramount. While fatigue, weakness, and nausea are common indicators, children may exhibit subtle behavioral changes such as irritability or clinginess. Moreover, dehydration symptoms like dry mouth and reduced urine output may be more pronounced in children, sometimes accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea.

Without prompt intervention, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, a life-threatening emergency. Therefore, doctors stress the importance of vigilance and swift action in mitigating the risks posed by heat exposure to children, underscoring the need for proactive measures to prevent heat-related illnesses in vulnerable populations.

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