As heat wave is sweeping over the country, the number of diarrhoea patients in and around the capital has seen a sharp rise over the past few weeks. People of all ages are being infected with diarrheal diseases every day however children and elderly persons in particular are the worst sufferers. The main diarrhea treatment center of the capital, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr, b) is having more patients than usual time.
Authorities concerned said they were having diarrhea patients in much higher numbers this year when compared to the previous year.Diarrheal diseases in the country usually see a rise during the summer season every year but this year the disease is spreading abnormally. icddr, b statistics shows the pressure of diarrhea patients starts increasing from March. At that time the hospital usually has to deal with 600 patients daily but this time around the number has crossed 900.
In the first 26 days of this month more than 20,000-diarrhea patients were admitted to the hospital, 30 percent of whom were children, the icddr, b statistics shows. Hospital supervisor Abdul Hamid told Bangladesh Post that, till noon on Saturday a total of 442 patients were admitted to the hospital. The number of patients being admitted to the hospital was 786 and 752 respectively on Thursday and Wednesday.
To cope up with the excessive pressure of patients, the authority is giving treatment outside the hospital wards. Visiting the hospital it was witnessed that there was hardly any open place in ther wards and their corridors. It was also seen that the open spaces outside the hospital building where temporary tents are hanged are full of patients. Doctors said that the primary complication of diarrhea is dehydration and suggested drinking more pure water.
A nurse at the hospital told this correspondent that patients were also kept at the study ward.
A patient named Khalid Hossain said due to extreme heat he had cool water from the roadside but had to get admitted to the hospital the following day.
A mother of three-year-old a child who had suffered from diarrhea said her child was seriously affected by the disease but that her condition improved after having treatment there. Hospitals and clinics in capital Dhaka, other metropolitan cities, district towns and upazila headquarters have also been dealing with excessive pressure of diarrhoea patients.
Medical experts said people are suffering from diarrhea due to heat and contaminated water. “During the second week this month we admitted 923 patients in 24 hours, each day we are having 850-900 patients but from past week the number has started decreasing,” icddr,b hospital chief Dr Azharul Islam Khan told Bangladesh Post.
Dr Azharul went on saying, “To avoid diarrhoeal diseases drinking pure water is must. Foods should be kept at normal temperature and habits like hand washing, cleanliness and refraining from staying outside for long are also essential.” “If one becomes sick anyway, one should immediately go to nearby hospital for treatment,” he concluded.