Diarrhoea, Cold-Related Diseases
Thakurgaon docs struggle to cope with child patients
Parents with their kids affected with diarrhoea and cold-related diseases stay on the corridor of Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital as the healthcare centre cannot provide accommodation for a large number of such patients at its children's ward.Photo: STAR
Doctors at Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital are struggling to cope with the child patients admitted to the hospital with diarrhoea and cold related diseases including pneumonia. At least 188 patients have been admitted to children's ward of the hospital, which has only 18 seats, in the last two days. Of the patients, 146 were affected with diarrhoea while others with pneumonia and other cold related diseases. As the hospital cannot accommodate the growing number of patients, most of them are staying on veranda and corridor. Besides, about 150-200 patients are receiving treatment at outdoor every day. About 160 child patients, most with diarrhoea, pneumonia and respiratory problems, received treatment there yesterday, said hospital sources. During a visit to the hospital yesterday, this correspondent saw many child patients lying on the floor of the children's ward. The diseases broke out due to rotavirus and weather change, said Dr Shahajahan Nawaj, a child doctor of the hospital. As there is no child specialists at the upazila level and in adjacent district Panchagarh, child patients are crowding here, the doctor added. Only three nurses are looking after the child patients. So it is difficult for them to tackle the situation, he said. Rotavirus is the most common virus that causes severe diarrhoea among infants and children. It is often called stomach flu, despite having no relation to influenza. If such child patients come to hospital in time, it is easy for the doctors to save the patients by giving proper treatment, he said. Earlier, similar diarrhoea and pneumonia broke out in Thakurgaon due to severe cold last month.
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