Ctg hospitals crammed with child patients

The number of bronchitis patients at the child ward of Chittagong Medical College Hospital is increasing everyday. PHOTO: STAR

The number of child patients suffering from bronchitis, the primary symptom of ARI, is increasing at an alarming rate in the port city.

Over two hundred children, mostly aged below two years, were admitted to different city hospitals in the last seven days, sources said.

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Doctors held Respiratory Syncitial Virus and seasonal change responsible for spread of the disease. They, however, said there is nothing to be worried about the situation.

Dr Moinuddin Ahmad, associate professor of Child Health Department at CMCH, said the child patients, particularly aged two or below, are the victims of the disease with the symptoms of fever and cough.

Meanwhile, the 65-bed CMCH Child Ward is now under tremendous pressure with huge number of patients coming everyday while the authority cannot provide sufficient room for them. As a result, many of them were compelled to go to different private clinics.

Around 150 patients were undergoing treatment at the child ward yesterday and most of them were seen lying on the floor.

Sources in Chittagong Maa O Shishu Hospital said around 60 children were undergoing treatment at the hospital with bronchitis.

Dr Susanta Barua, a physician of the hospital, urged the parents not to be worried, as the mortality rate by this disease is only one per cent.

Dr Moinuddin of CMCH said bronchitis of a patient might turn into pneumonia, the secondary symptom of ARI, if the viral fever is not controlled in time.

He suggested providing liquid food like water, saline or juice to the patients as initial treatment at home.