CHUADANGA, June 24: Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, the largest government hospital in the district, has been grappling with diarrhea patients as on an average some 25 people were admitted there per day over the last seven days.
The outdoor department is also under pressure, with numerous patients seeking treatment for diarrhea daily.
On Sunday, an 80-year-old woman named Asiya Khatun died from diarrhea while receiving treatment at the hospital.
The deceased was the wife of late Ashraf Ali from Baghanpara in Chuadanga district headquarters.
Dr. Nazmus Shakib, a physician at the emergency department of the hospital, confirmed the death saying that the patient got admitted with diarrhea on Sunday morning and died while undergoing treatment in the afternoon.
According to sources from the children and diarrhea wards at the hospital, a total of 173 patients, including women, children, and the elderly, have been admitted to the ward between June 17 and 3 pm on June 23.
Moreover, many patients are receiving treatment at the outdoor department daily for diarrhea and weather-related illnesses, as reported by Dr. Wahid Mahmud Robin, acting residential medical officer (RMO) of the hospital.
Asma, an attendee of a patient, said, "My grandmother has been suffering from stomach pain since Eid. She developed severe abdominal pain two days ago and then diarrhea. When we brought her to the hospital, the doctors admitted her."
A patient named Sajib said that since the day after Eid-ul-Azha, he started experiencing vomiting and severe gastric problems. Two days ago, he ate a lot of fried food and chotpoti. After eating these, his gastric issue worsened.
Despite taking medication as advised by a local doctor, his condition didn improve leading to diarrhea from Sunday morning. He is now hospitalized there.
Dr. Wahid told UNB that the increase in diarrhea cases could be attributed to the consumption of excessive meat during Eid and increased intake of street food items like fuchka and chotpoti while spending time outside, along with the high temperatures.
He advised that in cases of diarrhoea, patients should drink plenty of saline water and take precautions. —UNB
