Pneumonia hits Thakurgaon kids
One killed, 400 hospitalised; Over 200 take outdoor treatment a day
Mothers, along with their children admitted to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital for treatment of pneumonia and other cold-related diseases, huddle on the corridor yesterday as the 18-bed children's ward of the hospital is too inadequate to cope with the situation. PHOTO: STAR
A child died at Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital on Friday while around 400 other children with pneumonia and cold related diseases have been admitted to different hospitals and health complexes in the district as the area now sees much fluctuation of temperature between day and night. The deceased, five-month-old Babu, son of Jagadish Chandra of Molani village in Sadar upazila, was admitted to the hospital at his last stage on Friday morning, hospital sources said. In last two days, at least 117 patients were admitted to children's ward of Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital although there are only 18 seats at the ward. Sixty per cent of the patients are attacked with pneumonia, Dr Shahajahan Nawaj, a child consultant of the hospital, said. Besides, at least 200-250 patients are receiving treatment at the outdoor everyday. About 250 patients, most with respiratory problem, received treatment at the outdoor on Saturday, hospital sources said. The number of child patients with pneumonia and cold related diseases sees a sharp rise as the children are most vulnerable during fluctuation of temperature between day and night. During a visit to the hospital on Saturday morning, this correspondent saw many child patients and their mothers lying on the floor and veranda. "I admitted my pneumonia-affected two and a half month-old son to the hospital on Friday morning. We are staying on the floor due to shortage of space in the children's ward," said Shamsun Nahar of Molani village under Sadar upazila. Hasho Rani, wife of Profullah Barman of Puratan Atwary village under Atwary upazila in Panchagarh, admitted her one-year-old son with infection in the respiratory tract on Thursday. She is also staying at the hospital corridor. Alema of Bhulli village under Sadar upazila admitted her pneumonia-affected 10-month-old baby to the hospital on Thursday but she is staying on a space beside the staircase. "Two or three nurses, meant to serve 18 patients at the children's ward, are now attending over a hundred patients. Despite the pressure, we are trying our best to tackle the situation," Dr Shajahan said. Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital sees rush of child patients as there is no child specialist at the upazila level and in adjacent district Panchagarh hospital, he said. "Fluctuation of temperature between day and night causes bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. Children are more vulnerable to these infections because their immune system is weak. If the patients come to hospital in time it is easy to give treatment. The situation is likely to improve within two or three days as the weather is becoming normal," he said. About 150 child patients with similar problems were admitted to the clinics in the town. Ahsan Habib, owner of Ehia Clinic in the town, said 25 child patients were admitted there. Of them 14 patients were admitted on Friday. Twenty-six child patients are taking treatment Appolo Hospital in the town, said Mithu, manager of the hospital. Besides, around a hundred patients are taking treatment at the upazila health complexes, hospital sources said.
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