Incidence of gastroenteritis, heat related threats on the rise

Nearly 2,400 patients reported at PIMS in last two days

Islamabad

Well over 2,300 patients with the complaints of gastroenteritis including children and adult cases have reported at outpatient and emergency departments of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in last two days along with as many as 56 other cases suffering from various heat related disorders in emergency.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Thursday has revealed that the number of cases of gastroenteritis reaching PIMS is continuously on the rise. Last week, the PIMS was receiving nearly 900 patients with gastro daily on average that has crossed the figure of 1,150 this week.

The outpatient departments at PIMS are receiving 30 per cent less cases as compared to routine for the last two days because of sharp rise in mercury but the number of both the child and adult cases reaching hospital in emergency with gastroenteritis has increased, said PIMS Deputy Director Dr. Waseem AAhmed Khawaja while talking to ‘The News’ on Thursday.

He said it is alarming that nearly 60 per cent of the total child and adult patients reaching PIMS in emergency with gastroenteritis were found to be suffering from severe dehydration that hints that majority of population is unaware of the initial management of the infection at home.

He said the PIMS has issued guidelines on prevention and control of gastroenteritis and like infections and is continuously educating patients reaching hospital on the subject. It is need of the time to make public aware that Oral Rehydration Solution must be started to a patient whether a child or an adult immediately after developing signs and symptoms of the infection, said Dr. Khawaja.

He added that parents must start ORS to their children suffering from gastro at home instead of waiting for the hospital staff to give ORS to the child when taken to the hospital.

Gastroenteritis, infection of stomach and intestine, is generally water and food borne infections. It is a group of diseases caused by various viruses, bacteria, their toxins and parasites. The most common symptoms are diarrhoea and vomiting. Deaths from condition are common in the developing world like Pakistan especially in children under five years of age.

The most important thing at the time is to convince general public to take preventive measures properly to avoid gastro and like problems, said Dr. Khawaja. He said to prevent gastroenteritis, people should start following habits of frequent hand washing, using chlorinated or boiled water for drinking and avoiding junk food being served in unhygienic conditions.