Incidence of gastroenteritis on the rise

Allied hospitals receiving heavy influx of patients with gastro

Rawalpindi

The incidence of gastroenteritis generally known as water and food borne infection is continuously on the rise and according to health experts, it is mainly because of unawareness among public on how to avoid seasonal ailments.

Data collected by ‘The News’ has revealed that almost every fourth patient visiting the three teaching hospitals in town is with the complaints of vomiting, fever, diarrhoea and dehydration and the number of patients reaching allied hospitals with gastroenteritis is continuously on the rise.

The situation hints towards a severe outbreak of the infection in the coming weeks particularly after increase in humidity level. According to health experts, it is time to create awareness among public on preventive measures that must be taken to avoid gastro.

Gastro, typhoid and heatstroke would remain potential health threats to public in this region of the country in next three to four months and it is time to create awareness among public on how to avoid summer-related infections, said Principal Rawalpindi Medical College and Chief Allied Hospitals Professor Dr. Muhammad Umar while talking to ‘The News’.

He said after change in weather, the allied hospitals started receiving patients with gastro and the incidence of the infection is reported to be on the rise among children and elderly people.

Studies reveal that gastroenteritis is mainly transmitted through infected food and contaminated water. Flies in unhygienic conditions help contaminate the foodstuff in summer. The main symptoms of the infection include vomiting, fever, severe diarrhoea with dehydration and lowering of blood pressure. After exposure to the infection, the body suffers deficiency of certain salts particularly potassium. The disease might cause death in children and in cases which are not treated in time.

Every year in summer, gastroenteritis hit Rawalpindi district in result of which primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities here face a heavy burden of patients with the infection.

Dr. Umar said that to avoid gastroenteritis, chlorination of all water wells across district and cleaning of overhead water storage tanks must be done on regular basis. The consumption of contaminated water is the biggest cause of spread of gastroenteritis, he said.

He, like many other health experts, believe that the spread of gastroenteritis in the district can easily be avoided if the community plays its due role and for the purpose, all the stakeholders including city district government and health departments should run campaigns to educate public on the issue.

Senior Registrar at Holy Family Hospital Dr. Zahid Minhas said that people should avoid consumption of locally prepared drinks and foodstuff particularly cut fruits at vendors. Majority of vendors and local hotels serving local drinks and foodstuff are operating in unhygienic conditions, he said.

He said individuals should take extra care and should consume clean water for drinking and foodstuff. He added that children should not be allowed to have locally prepared cold drinks, foodstuff, ice lollies and like items at vendors operating in unhygienic conditions.