Diarrhoea cases rise in Shariatpur

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FE Team | Published: December 25, 2024 21:57:56

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Like other parts of Bangladesh, the winter is getting more intense in Shariatpur. Drizzling rain alongside the typical winter fog has lowered temperatures while cases of diarrhoea have shot up in the district, reports bdnews24.com.
Children are most affected by the disease. However, doctors said there was no reason to panic over the illness.
The authorities said about 35 to 40 diarrhoea patients are being admitted to just the Shariatpur Sadar Hospital every day. As there are more patients with the disease than beds, many patients, including children, and their relatives are staying on the balcony floor of the hospital.
Md Habibur Rahman, superintendent of the hospital, said, there are a total of 10 beds in the diarrhoea ward of the 100-bed hospital. As of Wednesday afternoon, 40 new patients with the disease were hospitalised in the last 24 hours. A total of 276 people have been hospitalised with diarrhoea in the last week.
Patients can be seen all around the hospital. Children are suffering a lot due to the dirty environment and lack of timely doctors' visits. Most of the children in the ward were suffering from diarrhoea, colds, and vomiting.
Motalef Hossain, a businessman from Char Palong Uttar Bazar of Shariatpur city, had brought his child to the doctor. He expressed his frustration over the state of the hospital, saying: "The patients and their relatives are facing extreme suffering due to a lack of beds and the filthy atmosphere in the hospital."
A patient named Ayesha Begum of the Char Palong area said, the surroundings of the hospital are filled with dirt and waste. The toilets are unclean and can't be used. It's also difficult to escape the foul smell of the bathrooms.
Salma, who chose to give a single name, came with her diarrhoea-affected child from the Manohar area of the Sadar Upazila's Angaria Union. She also expressed her disappointment over the mismanagement of the hospital alongside the poor conditions.
"We have to stay on the floor as there are no beds. But the floor is stained and damp as they are unwashed. The nurses also don't respond properly to calls."
Rajesh Majumdar, a paediatric specialist at the hospital, said with the onset of winter, diarrhoea has become a serious problem for children. The number of diarrhoea patients is four times more in winter than in summer.
"There are 10 beds in the hospital's diarrhoea ward. As a result, patients are suffering. Still, all efforts are being made to treat them."
However, the paediatrician has advised families not to panic if their children have loose stool or vomit in the hospital.
The hospital superintendent, Habibur, admitted they were keeping patients on the floor due to a lack of beds.
The doctor advised avoiding stale food and recommended breastfeeding children at this time due to the increase in diarrhoea.