Summer has begun: City hospitals crowded with dysentery, diarrhoea patients
- Parents have been rushing their children with complaints like severe stomach ache, vomiting and dysentery
- Parents have been advised not to let their children out in the hot sun from 11am to 3pm as the sun’s rays are strongest during this time and dehydration is possible
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City hospitals have recently admitted a lot of patients suffering from dysentery, diarrhoea, dehydration, gastroenteritis, jaundice and more just with the onset of summer. We are saying onset because this year is about to be another scorcher with temperature in the city touching 36 degrees celsius. And the temperature is about to soar higher in the coming days.
According to Vani Vilas Children Hospital, where about 400 cases of children are seen daily on outpatient basis, over 60 cases are related to water and food-borne diseases.
"The parents rush their children with complaints like severe stomach ache, vomiting and dysentery. This is an indication of water and food-borne infection. Since most of them result in dehydration or loss of water and energy in the body, ORS a healthy drink along with hot food is suggested," said Dr Premlatha, HoD, Vani Vilas Children Hospital.
The scene is no different at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital’s paediatric wing. The hospital authorities say, compared to the last two years this year, there is a slight increase in the number of cases.
"On an average 250 patients are examined every day and about 30 suffer from diarrhoea, dysentery and the likes. If the patient is not given timely treatment like fresh food supplements and a healthy liquid diet, there is a possibility of suffering from heat stroke," said Dr Chikka Narasareddy, Assistant Prof, Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital.
Suggesting parents watch their children's food habit, Dr Asha Benakappa, Director, Indira Gandhi Children Hospital says, “The summer-related health cases started coming to the hospital from February onwards, as the hospital recorded 10,638 cases for the month and out of that 1,212 patients had to be admitted. The cases include, gastroenteritis, Jaundice, Typhoid, chicken pox, measles and H1N1 and some injury-related ones.
The doctors have an advice for parents to protect children from summer harm. Parents have been advised not to let their children out in the hot sun from 11am to 3 pm as the sun’s rays are strongest during this time and dehydration is possible. The heat drains children of energy and makes them prone to infection
"Newborns and children upto to 10 years and aged folk are more prone to infection during summer as their immune system is weak and get infected fast. A woman walked in with her six-year-old son who had been having severe diarrhoea since morning, upon diagnosis we found he had consumed some roadside drink. Chances are that he has consumed contaminated water and that would have upset his stomach. Hence we also appeal to the parents to not allow children from having food or drink from the roadside as hygiene is highly suspect," said Dr Narsareddy.
