Continuous heavy rains over the past two months have caused severe flooding across Hyderabad, heavily affecting children’s health in slum areas. Medical examinations of 64,471 children at local clinics revealed that around 40% suffer from respiratory issues such as pneumonia and bronchitis caused by bacterial and viral infections. Many children also experienced cough, fever, chest discomfort, and difficulty breathing.

About 300 children were diagnosed with typhoid. Other conditions included knee injuries (3.5%), dental problems (4%), and minor wounds (11%). Contaminated water and food, along with stagnant rainwater, have contributed to these illnesses. Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue have also increased in slum areas.

The survey and medical examinations were conducted by the Helping Hand Foundation (HHF) in slums including Hakimpet, Rajendranagar, Kalapathar, Errakunta, Pahadi Shareef, Shaheen Nagar, Tolichowki, Kishan Bagh, and Jalapalli. HHF representatives reported that most children received treatment at local primary health centers, while severe cases were referred to Niloufer hospitals.

Age-wise, 40% of affected children are under 5 years, 24% are between 5 and 10 years, and 36% are between 10 and 14 years. Experts said the main causes are contaminated water and food due to heavy rains and floods. They warned parents not to give medicines at home and stressed the importance of seeking immediate medical attention, even for mild symptoms such as fever or weakness, to prevent severe complications and save lives.