Many Kolkatans, especially those who are elderly or suffering from medical conditions, are getting dehydrated even if they are not stepping out in the sun.

Some have had to get admitted to hospital or seek doctor’s help at home.

Doctors said one of the reasons for such dehydration-induced illnesses was low intake of fluids despite the increase in temperature. People with conditions like chronic kidney or liver diseases have fluid intake restrictions.

Also, people suffering from conditions like dementia consume inadequate fluids, said doctors.

In the past few days, at least two elderly women had to be admitted to the intensive care unit of Peerless Hospital. The doctor treating the women said their illness was caused by heat and dehydration.

One of the women, who is 90, was drowsy and running a temperature when she was taken to the hospital. She was diagnosed with urinary tract infection.

“The woman suffers from dementia, which often results in low intake of fluids,” the doctor said.

The other woman, who is 77, came to the hospital with fever and infection.

“In many cases, dehydration can worsen fever and infection. A person suffering from dehydration is more prone to developing urinary tract infection. Dehydration can affect the functioning of kidneys and make the person drowsy,” said Chandramouli Bhattacharya, infectious disease specialist at Peerless Hospital, under whom both patients are admitted.

Bhattacharya said elderly people staying at home can suffer from dehydration, especially in this extreme heat.

“People suffering from chronic kidney and liver diseases are advised to restrict fluid consumption. But things become complicated in this extreme heat,” said Bhattacharya.

He suggested that such people consult the doctor on the permissible levels of oral fluid intake.

At Belle Vue Clinic, many elderly people turned up at the Emergency ward in the past few days. They suffered dehydration during their morning walk.

“Six to seven elderly people came complaining of dizziness during their morning walk. They were given ORS and discharged. However, two persons, aged between 60 and 65, had to be admitted over the past weekend because of dehydration,” said Pradip Tondon, CEO of Belle Vue.

There have also been complaints of elderly patients getting dehydrated at home.

Apollo HomeCare has been getting more calls than usual for doctors to attend to patients at home in the past week.

“There has been a 30 per cent increase in home calls for doctors in the last one week. The complaints are mainly fever and gastrointestinal disorders caused by dehydration,” said an official of Apollo HomeCare, eastern region.

Nephrologists warned that those with fluid intake restrictions and on diuretics should consult doctors.

“Those suffering from chronic kidney disease but not on dialysis, who have to go out and whose fluid intake is restricted, should increase their fluid intake after consultation with physicians,” said D.S. Ray, head of the nephrology department at the RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences and clinical governance lead in kidney transplantation of the Narayana Health group, which runs the Mukundapur hospital.

“They should be adequately hydrated but not over-hydrated,” he said. “For dialysis patients, too, we are marginally increasing the fluid intake.”

Ray also urged patients suffering from hypertension, but not from any kidney disease, and on diuretics to be careful.

“For elderly patients, even small doses of diuretics can lead to reduced levels of sodium and dehydration during excessive heat. For them, the fluid intake should be increased and diuretics doses decreased during the period,” said Ray.