Incidence of gastroenteritis on the rise

Rawalpindi

The number of gastroenteritis cases is continuously on the rise after the setting in of summer in the region. According to health experts, it is so because of lack of sufficient awareness among public about what measures must be taken to avoid gastroenteritis and other infections in hot and humid weather which helps bacteria in growing faster. 

Gastroenteritis is considered as number five cause of death in Pakistan and number one cause of presentation to hospitals in summer. Gastroenteritis, generally known as water- and food-borne infection, has already started hitting population in scattered areas of the country, including twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where no less than 6,000 cases of the disease have been reported at public sector hospitals in last one month.

The complications of gastroenteritis claim a number of lives every year in the country. According to health experts, the major reasons behind death among gastroenteritis patients include late presentation to the hospitals, acute kidney failures and ignorance of the patients and their families. 

Gastroenteritis (also known as gastro) is an infection of stomach and intestine. It is a group of diseases caused by various viruses, bacteria, their toxins and parasites. The most common symptoms are diarrhea and vomiting. Deaths from condition are common in the developing world like Pakistan especially in children under five years of age and it is mainly because of unawareness among parents, said Medical Superintendent at Holy Family Hospital Dr. Raja Shafiq Sarwar while talking to ‘The News’ on Thursday.

He added that in patients of gastro in old age, multiple factors add to their miseries like pre-existing diseases related to heart, kidney and lungs along with hypertension and diabetes. 

He said that there is a need to create awareness among public on danger signs and factors among gastro patients that include intractable vomiting, altered consciousness, decreased or absent urine formation, diarrhea with bleeding, post diarrhea obstruction and intestinal perforation and age of patient over 65 years or below five years. If any of these factors are present, the patient must be taken immediately to hospital for lifesaving management, said Dr. Shafiq.

Health experts believe that in a patient with diarrhea, only ORS is the standard therapy, at least one packet in one litre of water daily. Many studies have revealed that initial six hours of the onset of acute gastro is the golden time to save the life and gastrointestinal tract of the patient. 

If a patient is treated within six hours with IV fluids and medicine, the chances of complications are reduced to less than five per cent, said Deputy Director at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Waseem Khawaja.

He said if a patient of gastro feels obstruction in urination or his or her urine gets scanty, the patient should be given vigorous oral fluids to save kidneys as acute kidney failure is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among chronic patients.

Gastro is 100 per cent curable but unfortunately, patients are still dying in Pakistan with it and the main reasons behind it are lack of awareness, late presentation to hospitals, use of anti-motility medicines, lack of adequate fluid intake and financial restrains to get proper treatment.

Experts say that poor hygienic conditions at food places and vendors contaminate locally prepared drinks and foodstuff while flies in summer help spreading infections further because of sale of uncovered food, cut fruits and uncovered drinks and these must be avoided.

Health experts say that the outbreak of the infection can be avoided with the use of clean drinking water and by avoiding consumption of contaminated water and foodstuff.