Shawdesh desk:

Diarrhoea has taken an alarming turn in the capital with a large number of patients being admitted to hospitals every day.

Sources said the number of diarrhoea patients is also increasing in other parts of the country amid the hot weather.

“International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has been witnessing a huge rush of diarrhoea patients since March 7. The number of patients is unusually high,” Baharul Alam, head of the icddr,b hospital, told the Daily Sun on Friday.

“On average, over 1,100 diarrhoea patients are being admitted to our hospital every day,” he said.

Sources at the icddr,b said around 45 diarrhoea patients have taken admission per hour in the last 15 hours since 12noon till 3pm on Friday.

It said some 1,176 patients were admitted to the icddr,b Dhaka hospital on March 24, 1233 on March 23, 1272 on March 22, 1216 on March 21, 1157 on March 20, 1135 on March 19, 1174 on March 18, 1141 on March 17 and 1057 on March 16.

From the end of the first week of this March month, on average 500 patients were admitted to the icddr,b every day, which increased to 600 in the second week and it has risen to over 1,000 since March 17, the sources mentioned.

The icddr’b hospital is now overflowing with diarrhoea patients as the hospital authorities have set up extra tent temporarily for accommodating additional patients.

“Most of the patients are coming from different areas of the capital, including Jatrabari, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Dakkhinkahn and Kadamtoli,” Baharul Alam further said.

While visiting the icddr,b, this correspondent has found that the doctors were struggling to tackle the huge rush of patients.

“It seems to be that one patient is coming every two to three minutes,” said an official of the hospital.

Replying to a question, Baharul Alam said negligence to maintain hygiene, including washing hands properly, and drinking unhygienic juices and other drinks during this hot summer are the major reasons behind the diarrhea outbreaks.

“In the last two years, the number of diarrhoea patients has comparatively less as people maintained hygiene, washed hands to prevent the corona. At the same time, people also were restrained from drinking unhygienic street foods and juices due as people’s movement was limited due to the corona restriction during the time,” he added.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), sources said the number of the diarrhoea patients also has increased at some other areas of the country as many patients are taking admission at different district and divisional-level hospitals.

The DGHS said 15,901 diarrhoea patients were admitted to the icddr,b in January, 10,344 in February and 19,677 in 23 days of current March month.

“The number of diarrhoea patient is a little bit higher than usual in few hospitals in Barishal division for last around a week,” Dr Md Humayun Shaheen Khan, director (Barisal Division) of Barisal Divisional Health Office, told the Daily Sun.

However, Dr Md Monzurul Murshid, director (Khulna Division) of Khulna Divisional Health Office, claimed that “the number of diarrhoea patients is still usual in Khulna.”

Health experts said during the summer, many people, especially day labourers, rickshaw-pullers and other people from low-income groups, are the main consumers of such drinks made from substandard ingredients and served in unhygienic ways which causes diarrhoea.

Baharul Alam has advised all to drink safe water and maintain hygiene in a bid to remain safe from diarrhoea and asked them to consult doctors immediately in case of severe diarrhoea.

“When anyone is affected with diarrhoea, he/she has to drink oral saline enough and consult nearest doctors as soon as possible,” he said.