Gastroenteritis, dehydration pose serious threat in Ramazan

Islamabad
Complications of gastroenteritis and dehydration should not be taken lightly, particularly in the holy month of Ramazan, as they may lead to life-threatening conditions among fasting patients.
Severe diarrhoea among patients undergoing fasting may lead to acute kidney injury, a life-threatening condition. Also the fasting individuals may suffer from loss of fluids and electrolytes in the body that can cause a number of complications particularly among elderly and pregnant women.
It is important that a number of deaths are reported in Ramazan due to complications of gastroenteritis and dehydration. Severe gastro and shock is generally started with vomiting and loose motions leading to a state of drowsiness among patients who become unable to pass urine and the condition may cause death, said Medical Specialist at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Waseem Ahmed Khwaja while talking to ‘The News’.
He added that it is need of the hour to make public aware of the fact that gastro is dangerous particularly at extremes of ages and in pregnant ladies particularly when they are fasting. Pregnant women having persistent vomiting or loose motions should avoid fasting in the holy month of Ramazan especially in the first and third trimesters, he said.
It is observed that the number of cases of dehydration and gastroenteritis is on the rise in the region since the advent of Ramaza mainly because majority of people do not take the health threats serious nor give proper attention to diet to avoid the problems, he said.
Dr. Khwaja added that though the number of total patients at outpatient department of the hospital has decreased as happened every year in Ramazan, the ratio of patients with gastro and dehydration is on the rise.
He added that by following good dietary habits, use of clean water for drinking and consumption of safe food prepared in hygienic conditions, one can avoid gastroenteritis and a number of other infections in Ramazan.
Gastroenteritis is water and food borne bacterial infections and its main symptoms include vomiting, fever, severe diarrhea with dehydration and lowering of blood pressure.
To a query, Dr. Khwaja said that all individuals opting for fast should avoid loss of fluids and electrolytes particularly when having complaints of diarrhea and vomiting. One should break open the fast immediately after developing symptoms of gastro to avoid complications, he said.
He suggested that such patients should take plenty of fluids and ORS for at least three days. He said individuals should avoid food prepared in unhygienic conditions and should use boiled water for drinking to avoid gastroenteritis.