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Sameer Singh
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, July 17
With the onset of monsoon, a number of patients are falling prey to water-borne diseases in the city. Of the total patients visiting the OPD of the paediatrics unit at the Women and Children Hospital, more than 50 per cent were found to be affected by diarrhoea, cholera, fever, vomiting, stomach infection and jaundice (hepatitis A and E).
Doctors at the Civil Hospital said for the past 10 to 12 days, there had been a significant increase in the number of patients visiting the paediatrics unit for treatment. A majority of these patients are affected after consuming contaminated water. The doctors added that during the rainy season, children are more vulnerable to various types of infections owing to consumption of contaminated water or food items prepared with it.
Moreover, due to humid weather, bacterial growth is quite rapid around this time. As a result, food or snacks prepared with contaminated water lead to water-borne diseases. If a child experiences fatigue, nausea, head or body ache, fever, loose motion, vomiting and dehydration, it is time to see a doctor.
Dr Ravi Kant Gupta, a paediatrician at the Women and Children Hospital, said, “Food at roadside vends is mostly prepared under unhygienic conditions and it often leads to various infections or gastroenteritis problems among children. Of the total patients visiting the OPD, more than 50 per cent of them are affected by water-borne diseases. Schoolchildren eat snacks or have juices from roadside vends, which is prepared under unhygienic conditions.”
Dr Gupta added, “If any child experiences lack of appetite (anorexia), yellow discoloration of urine, eyes and skin, vomiting and nausea, he or she needs to be examined by a doctor.”
Talking to about precautionary measures, Dr Gupta said, “Food prepared and served in hygienic conditions, potable drinking water (or preferably boiled water for children around this time), washing of veggies, fruits, washing hands and serving only pasteurised or boiled milk to children are very important. One must avoid eating at roadside vends. Apart from regular treatment at the hospital, if there are recurrent loose motions or vomiting, the patient must take ORS solution to keep him or hydrated.”
Notably, a fortnight-long programme to control and spread awareness about diarrhoea-related diseases has started at the Civil Hospital recently. Under the programme, visitors are sensitised to the disease, its symptoms, preventions and precautions.
Dr Hari Narain Singh, Civil Surgeon, said, “To reduce the risk of diarrhoea-related diseases, a child must be breastfeed by mothers. And if a child is affected by the disease, the ORS solution must be given.”
Doctors blame Contaminated water
Of the total patients visiting the OPD of the paediatrics unit at the Women and Children Hospital, more than 50 per cent were found to be affected by diarrhoea, cholera, fever, vomiting, stomach infection and jaundice (hepatitis A and E).
Doctors at the Civil Hospital said for the past 10 to 12 days, there had been a significant increase in the number of patients visiting the paediatrics unit for treatment.
A majority of these patients are affected after consuming contaminated water.
The doctors added that during the rainy season, children are more vulnerable to various types of infections owing to consumption of contaminated water or food items prepared with it.
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