Diarrheal Disease, Respiratory Tract Infection and Dengue Fever
Diarrheal Disease:
As predicted, my colleagues and I have noticed a significant increase in number of kids being brought for treatment of diarrheal diseases in the past few weeks. While the majority of them have been demonstrated to be of viral origin by stool tests, some of them have been found to be of bacterial aetiology. Both forms of diarrhea are spread via contaminated food and drinks. Improved personal and food hygiene at all times, especially at times like these are an important public health measure to prevent epidemics. Rehydration using ORS and other rehydrating oral fluids is the recommended early home management in affected kids.
Respiratory Tract Infections:
A flu-like illness is being seen in increasing number among children of all ages. Most affected kids have severe cough, runny nose and sometimes fever. A significant proportion of them have altered voice and sore throats. A few of them have been noted to have oral ulcers much like those of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease.
Most affected kids recover with symptomatic treatment while a few, but a significant number, have required hospital care for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections. It is my opinion, based on the investigation reports from cases that I have thus far managed, that the illness is of viral aetiology (possibly an enterovirus being the agent). The few cases that have required more intensive treatment are those that had secondary bacterial infections and the very small infants affected by the viral illness.
Early care seeking behavior, improved hygiene and keeping sick kids away from school until they are well are measures that could help control the illness.
An epidemiological surveillance program is expected to be launched soon to help identify the aetiology.
Dengue Fever:
With the rainy season upon us, we are witnessing a surge in the number of Dengue cases once again. This is likely to increase over the next few weeks to months unless mosquito control measures are initiated on time. Clearing mosquito breeding areas is perhaps one of the single most important measure that could help this endemic disease from once again reaching epidemic proportions.
As predicted, my colleagues and I have noticed a significant increase in number of kids being brought for treatment of diarrheal diseases in the past few weeks. While the majority of them have been demonstrated to be of viral origin by stool tests, some of them have been found to be of bacterial aetiology. Both forms of diarrhea are spread via contaminated food and drinks. Improved personal and food hygiene at all times, especially at times like these are an important public health measure to prevent epidemics. Rehydration using ORS and other rehydrating oral fluids is the recommended early home management in affected kids.
Respiratory Tract Infections:
A flu-like illness is being seen in increasing number among children of all ages. Most affected kids have severe cough, runny nose and sometimes fever. A significant proportion of them have altered voice and sore throats. A few of them have been noted to have oral ulcers much like those of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease.
Most affected kids recover with symptomatic treatment while a few, but a significant number, have required hospital care for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections. It is my opinion, based on the investigation reports from cases that I have thus far managed, that the illness is of viral aetiology (possibly an enterovirus being the agent). The few cases that have required more intensive treatment are those that had secondary bacterial infections and the very small infants affected by the viral illness.
Early care seeking behavior, improved hygiene and keeping sick kids away from school until they are well are measures that could help control the illness.
An epidemiological surveillance program is expected to be launched soon to help identify the aetiology.
Dengue Fever:
With the rainy season upon us, we are witnessing a surge in the number of Dengue cases once again. This is likely to increase over the next few weeks to months unless mosquito control measures are initiated on time. Clearing mosquito breeding areas is perhaps one of the single most important measure that could help this endemic disease from once again reaching epidemic proportions.
I can't even remember the last time I took my kids out, and feel comfortable that there are no flu or viral fevers going around. I guess it is always comes down to teh basic.."THE PUBLIC" itself, it is just heartbreaking to see that every child I know of every age is down with a cold, cough or fever! As identified by you, public is very unaware of these issues.It was just awhile ago that a friend of mine received a call from her son's teacher asking why he has not been in school. The teacher was told that the son was down with viral fever. The teacher (asuuming to be friendly) requests that the son be sent to school if at all he could because he was due to participate ina competition. Regardless of thinking how unsafe this child may be to himself and teh other kids at school as well.I don't understand who's to be responsible for such ignorance! Then again on what basis can we judge individuals if they are unaware of the seriousness of a situation.
I am not in any position to be of much influence as this is not my area. Ofcourse it always comes down to the fact that everything needs to be done in policy maker or admin level. But I admire your work alot,absoutely commendable. I can see alot of people look up to you and many other harworking peadiatricians..I guess everyone is trying to do the best with what they have got..Trying to make teh best out of teh worst situation.
When I was reading yaz's comment and your response to it, so many things were going through my mind, what quality control? what standards of medications are we subjecting our children to?? ..best practice? standards? For someone like me..this is just mind boggling scary! I have never given much thought to these issues before.
Just wish someone like youirself, would step in.My point is that, we secretly expect someone to mobilise the community to start taking serious action and demanding the care our kids deserve. Some of us are not in any position to start up something, so that we ae heard. But I am positive many of us are a hundred percent on backing up any such propositions.I suppose some other issues are more loudly spoken about in our community these days.
Seems to em that every person has a story tell about how their kid was subjescted to ill treatments in IGMH or by certain doctors.Hearing about fatal incidences related to these endemincs makes me think that tomorrow it might just be my child or someomne I dearly love. Can't you do anything about it? Possibly silly of me to even ask. But all the readers on this site surely has a lot of faith in you. Can't we use your blog to form up a body and make sure we are heard?May be too much to ask! But I am simply a very scared parent. (Other reader invited to comment on this post)I am just frankly putting down my thoughts. Thank you so much for doing what you do..Dr. Niyaf.As one of the commentors said My dhu'aa will always be with you and your family for your wellbeing and so forth.
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