Sudden rise of diarrhoea patients in C’nawabganj

The spread of diarrhoea has sharply increased in the district in the last seven days, triggering a sudden influx of patients into Adhunik Sadar Hospital in Chapainawabganj.

Dr Nadim Sarkar, resident medical officer (RMO) of Adhunik Sadar Hospital, said they are struggling to handle the sudden rise of diarrhoea patients due to shortage of supply of intravenous (IV) fluids in the 100-bed hospital. 

Diarrhoea, a gastrointestinal infection caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms, generally occurs due to taking of contaminated food or drinking water and spreads from the infected people to others due to poor hygiene, said doctors at the hospital.

Over 40 diarrhoea patients, especially women and children, are being admitted at the hospital every day, said the RMO.

But most of them lie on floor of the hospital as the 12-bed diarrhoea ward is too inadequate, said Kohinoor Nesa, senior staff nurse of the hospital.

“Although oral saline and necessary medicines are available at the hospital, we are facing problems to deal with the growing number of patients due to manpower shortage,” she said.

Shyamal Nandi, 50, of Malopara in Chapainawabganj town, said he received treatment at on the floor as all the beds of diarrhoea were filled up.

Another diarrhoea patient Mohidul Islam, 46, of Atahar village in Sadar upazila, said the hospital authorities did not provide any IV fluids.

He bought IV fluids from a medicine shop in the area, said Mohidul.

The RMO said there is no crisis of oral saline and necessary medicines at the hospital to cope with the diarrhoea affected patients.

But, IV fluids are not available in the hospital and they have already informed the higher authorities about the matter, he said.

Most of the people have been attacked with diarrhoea due to hot weather and drinking of unsafe water, said the doctor.