Nagpur advisory: protecting children and the elderly from cold-weather ailments as temperatures drop

The weather is changing in Nagpur and the chill is beginning to build. An advisory says special care of the health of children and the elderly is necessary at this time. It says the difference between morning and evening temperatures can increase colds, coughs and breathing problems.

According to the advisory, families should pay attention to clothing, food and daily routine. People with asthma, heart disease or other long-term illnesses should not take their symptoms lightly.

On young children, the advisory says they should be dressed in warm clothes suited to the weather. When taking them out in the morning and evening, their head, neck and feet should be kept covered. It adds that too many layers can make a child sweat, so comfortable clothing should be chosen. Children should be given nutritious food and plenty of fluids. If a child has a high fever, a cough that persists, difficulty in breathing or appears unusually listless, a doctor should be contacted.

For the elderly, the advisory recommends warm clothing when stepping out early in the morning or late in the evening, light physical activity indoors and a full night's sleep. Elderly people with diabetes, asthma or heart disease should keep taking their regular medicines and should not change any medication without a doctor's advice. Chest pain, breathlessness or sudden weakness calls for immediate medical help, it says.

On diet, the advisory says the body needs water even in the cold, so people should keep sipping water at short intervals. It recommends including seasonal fruits, vegetables and pulses in meals. Soups and lukewarm drinks may give relief, but should not be treated as a cure for illness. It also says children and the elderly should not be given antibiotics or cough syrup without medical advice.

Those using a heater to warm a room should follow safety instructions. The advisory says burning a coal or charcoal stove in a closed room should be avoided, as it can lead to the risk of poisonous carbon monoxide gas. It also advises keeping an eye on weather warnings for Nagpur district.

Persistent fever, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, extreme weakness or signs of dehydration should prompt a visit to a doctor, the advisory says. In small children, drinking less milk, passing less urine or unusual listlessness can also be serious signs. It says timely medical opinion can help avoid complications of seasonal illnesses.