Cool ways to keep prickly heat at bay

Prickly heat is a skin rash caused by trapped sweat under the skin, sweat can become trapped when the narrow ducts through which it travels to the surface get clogged. Prickly heat tends to be more common in warmer, more humid climates. The condition usually appears on the torso and thighs. Also called heat rash, prickly heat looks like tiny bumps surrounded by an area of red skin. It usually occurs on clothed parts of the body, such as the back, abdomen, neck, upper chest, armpits and goes away on its own within a few days. In severe forms, however, prickly heat can interfere with the body’s heat- regulating mechanism and cause fever, heat exhaustion and even death.

Symptoms and causes: The condition features many small red bumps and a constant itching sensation . In the most severe forms, salt crystals may form in the sweat-gland ducts, producing small blisters, itching may encourage scratching, which may lead to skin infection.

Prickly heat occurs when sweat glands get blocked when the weather is hot and humid . Dead skin cells and bacteria may block the sweat glands, leading to sweat being retained and building upon the skin leading to inflammation, which causes the rash.

Prevention and remedies: Prickly heat can easily be prevented. If you’re especially vulnerable to prickly heat, there are steps you can take to prevent flare-ups.

Avoid exposure to heavy sunlight: Decrease activity during humid, hot weather; take frequent showers during inclimate weather; do not wear tight clothing; cotton clothes will allow the skin to breathe; apply moisturising cream to the skin daily; avoid heavy moisturisers; moisturise with a light, water-based lotion instead.

Change an infant’s diapers as soon as they are wet.

Prickly heat is curable. The best treatment for heat rash is to provide a cooler, less humid environment, dusting powder may be used to increase comfort.

Expose the rash to as much fresh air as possible. Never cover with bandages or tight clothing. Aloe vera lotions will stop excess itching. Take multi-vitamin supplements daily to keep the immune system functioning.

Anti-histamine creams or medication should be used. Drink cool lime-water and fresh fruit juice during hot weather , in severe condition, consult your doctor immediately. — Dr Anil Dheer

Seminar on need to improve ESI hospitals
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 17
A seminar on hospital management for senior doctors working in ESI medical scheme, organised at ESIC Model Hospital here today, focused on various problems and issues being faced by the hospital administrators in their day-to-day working. Problems related to behaviour, public relations and doctor-patient relations were discussed at length by the participating doctors and strategies to deal with the technological advancements along with cost containment were debated upon.

Procurement processes, availability of drugs and consumables and inventory control of the drugs were discussed. Other issues like the importance of repairs, maintenance, annual maintenance contract (AMC) in the wake of fast changing technology, legal problems and consumer protection Act were also discussed.

MC XI beat Green Cricket Club
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, May 17
Skipper Sunil Sharma led from the front to help MC XI to record a convincing 136-run victory over the Green Cricket Club in the ongoing cricket tournament being played at the Government College for Boys ground. Sunil scored 62 runs which included nine fours and one six. Other notable contributor was Sunny who chipped in with 74 runs and remained unbeaten.

MC XI won the toss and opted to bat first. They scored 295 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 30 overs. In reply, the Green Cricket Club team could score only 159 runs.

Brief scores: MC XI — 295 for 8 (Sunil Sharma 62, Sunny 74 n.o, Rinka 54, Harmeet Batra 36; R Yogi 2 for 50 and K. Pandey 2 for 35); Green Cricket Club — 159 all out (K. Pandey 26 and R. Yogi 23; Sudhir 3 for 42, Rinka 3 for 39 and Harmeet Batra 3 for 27).

DRA office-bearers

Lieut-Col J.S. Brar and Mr G.S. Garcha were elected president and general secretary, respectively, of the District Rifle Association, Ludhiana, during the annual general meeting of the body at the St Thomas Senior Secondary School here on Sunday. The office-bearers were elected for a term of four years. Mr Paramjit Singh, a representative of the Punjab Rifle Association, attended the meeting as an observer to oversee the proceedings.

The following office-bearers were elected: president — Lieut-Col J.S. Brar; senior vice-president — Mr N.S. Bhogal; vice-presidents — Mr Gurjit Singh Guron, Mr M.S. Dhaliwal and Mr Kamaldeep Sangha; general secretary — Mr G.S. Garcha; joint secretary — Mr A.S. Chhabra; treasurer — Mr Jasbir Singh; executive committee members — Mr Preet Amarjit Grewal, Mr Manmohan Singh Bhogal, Dr T.S. Julka, Mr Rabinder Singh and Mr Gurjit Singh.

Baseball camp

Shaminder Kaur (BCom II), Gaganpreet Kaur (BA II) and Gurpreet Kaur (BA I), all students of Guru Nanak Girls College, have been selected for the national baseball training camp. The team will participate in the forth Asian Baseball Championship for Women scheduled to be held in Japan.

Antarpreet, a former student of the college, has also been selected for the camp. Incidentally, only these four students have been selected for the camp from Punjab.