Health vulnerability to heat stress in rural communities of the semi-arid regions of Maharashtra, India
Date
2018-05
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Abstract
Rural health infrastructure needs to be upgraded to effectively include heat stress related illnesses and to develop a health surveillance mechanism for monitoring heat-related morbidity and mortality. This policy brief highlights the risks and responses to heat stress in rural communities of the semi-arid region of Maharashtra. It identifies vulnerable groups as well as important factors that affect vulnerability to heat stress. Heat related symptoms (HRS) include: small blisters or pimples, dry mouth, fatigue, leg cramps, heavy sweating, intense thirst, rapid heartbeat, headache, leg swelling, paranoid feeling and swelling of face; and in more severe cases hallucinations, fainting and vomiting.
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Policy Brief
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Keywords
HEAT STRESS, HEAT, MORTALITY, EXTREME WEATHER, RURAL HEALTH, CLIMATE SENSITIVE DISEASES, INDIA, SOUTH ASIA