One in four kids in Rome ER due to heat

In recent days marked by the high

temperature alert, approximately 25% of visits to the emergency

room at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome are

directly or indirectly attributable to the effects of heat, the

noted children's hospital said Friday.

Some 5% of cases involve problems strictly related to high

temperatures, such as heat stroke, fainting, and dehydration.

The remaining 20% include children arriving at the hospital for

conditions such as vomiting, diarrhea, or fever, conditions

that, in the presence of high temperatures, lead to more rapid

and severe fluid loss.

They also include patients with chronic or particularly fragile

diseases—such as heart patients, diabetics, cancer patients, or

those with other complex conditions—for whom intense heat can

worsen the clinical situation and increase the risk of

complications, making it necessary to resort to medical

interventions.

Children are more vulnerable than adults because their bodies

have an immature ability to regulate body temperature and are

less efficient at dissipating heat. Furthermore, infants and

toddlers' water reserves are depleted more quickly, increasing

the risk of dehydration.

"Heat in children should never be underestimated," says

Sebastian Cristaldi, head of the Emergency Room at the Gianicolo

branch of the Bambino Gesù Hospital.

"Many of the situations we see in the Emergency Room can be

avoided with simple measures: offer children water frequently,

limit exposure during the hottest hours of the day, and pay

attention to the first signs of dehydration.

"Prompt intervention means, in most cases, preventing an illness

from turning into an emergency."

"Here are ten prevention tips from experts to protect children

from the heat.

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