Soaring temperatures cause increase in gastro cases

2,000 cases have been reported in Darya Khan over the past seven days

DARYA KHAN: Cases of diarrhea are on the rise as four hospitals in Darya Khan district have reported an increase in the number of patients. During the last seven days, 2,000 patients of diarrhea were reported in District Headquarter Hospital Bhakkar, Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Darya Khan, Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Mankera and Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Kallar Kot.

Medical Officer, Dr Shahabuddin, said that diarrhea is common in the district and more children are suffering from the condition with the increasing number of patients.

Around 70 percent of the patients visiting hospitals on a daily basis are suffering from diarrhea.

He added that flies have spread in the districts of Darya Khan and Bhakkar as the weather changed and every second person is suffering at the moment. “There are a number of food items including sugarcane juice, tamarind, prune juice, pakoras and samosas available in the market and in these stalls no one cares about the cleanliness and hygiene.”



He explained that flies sit on the glasses and food items at these stalls which is the root cause of the disease.

He further said, “The disease of gastroenteritis is spreading due to unhygienic conditions. If everyone cares about their hygiene they will be safeguarded by the disease.”

Talking to The Express Tribune, the father of a patient, Farhan, said that his son had a stomachache, felt nausea and did not want to eat anything.

When he took him to the hospital, he came to know after medical checkup that his son is suffering from diarrhea. Now the doctor has prescribed him medicine.

Another patient named Mariam said that when she slept at night, she was well but at the morning she had a headache and stomachache and did not want to eat anything.

When she went to the hospital, the doctor diagnosed her with diarrhea and medicine was prescribed by the doctor.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2019.