What Is El Niño?

El Niño Is The Warming Of The Central And Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, Occurring Periodically As Part Of The El Niño-southern Oscillation (Enso).

How Does El Niño Affect India?

It Can Alter The Indian Monsoon And Is Often Associated With Reduced Monsoon Rainfall, Although This Is Not Inevitable In Every El Niño Year.

Can El Niño Increase Temperatures?

Yes. El Niño Can Contribute To Higher Temperatures In Several Regions. Combined With Long-term Global Warming, This Can Increase The Risk Of Extreme Heat.

Why Is Extreme Heat Medically Important?

Heat Causes Dehydration, Electrolyte Disturbances And Increased Cardiovascular Strain. Severe Exposure Can Result In Heat Exhaustion And Potentially Fatal Heat Stroke.

Can Children Be Affected Disproportionately?

Yes. Children Are Vulnerable To Dehydration, Heat Illness, Malnutrition And Climate-sensitive Infections. Infants Cannot Regulate Body Temperature As Effectively As Adults.

Which Patients Are Most Vulnerable To Heat?

Older Adults, Infants, Pregnant Women, Outdoor Workers And People With Heart Disease, Diabetes, Kidney Disease And Chronic Lung Disease Are Particularly Vulnerable.

What About Malaria?

El Niño-related Changes In Rainfall And Temperature Can Alter Mosquito Habitats And Malaria Transmission. The Direction And Magnitude Of The Effect Depend On Local Conditions.

Can El Niño Affect Food Security?

Yes. Changes In Rainfall And Drought Can Reduce Agricultural Productivity, Potentially Affecting Food Availability, Prices And Nutritional Status.

What Precautions Should Patients Take During Extreme Heat?

Drink Adequate Fluids, Avoid Unnecessary Outdoor Activity During The Hottest Hours, Wear Light Clothing And Remain In A Cool Environment. High-risk Patients Should Have An Individual Plan For Medications And Hydration.

Can El Niño Affect Kidney Health?

Indirectly. Heat And Dehydration Can Reduce Kidney Perfusion And Increase The Risk Of Acute Kidney Injury, Especially In Elderly People And Those With Chronic Kidney Disease.

Does El Niño Influence Dengue?

It Can. Changes In Temperature And Rainfall Can Alter Mosquito Breeding And Transmission. However, The Relationship Varies By Region And Is Not Sufficiently Predictable To Diagnose An Epidemic From El Niño Alone.

Author: Dr Jay Deshmukh

Dr Jay Deshmukh is Chief Physician and Director, Sunflower Hospital, Nagpur Honorary Physician to Honorable Governor of Maharashtra and PondicherryCentral. Dr Jay Deshmukh is an M.B.B.S., M.C.P.S., F.C.P.S., M.N.A.M.S., MD From Internal Medicine – Bombay and New Delhi.