Dr Niyaf's Online Clinic

Several children (and according to my adult physician colleagues; adults as well) have been seeking medical care for a severe diarrhoeal disease over the past many days. Among the children, several have required hospital admission for management of dehydration associated with the often very watery and high purge rate loose stools associated with this diarrhoeal disease. I have talked to a few of my colleagues working in the islands who tell me that they too are seeing similar cases.

It is quite possible that the number of cases seeking medical care actually represent only a small fraction of the total number of cases as many are likely to be managed at home with home remedies, especially among bigger kids and adults.

Most diarrhoeal diseases that occur in these types of outbreaks are usually viral in origin (caused by viruses). Similarly most of the cases, from the current outbreak, that I have been involved in management have also been, on investigations, identified to be of viral origin. However, a small but significant number have had evidence of bacterial infection.

Diarrhoeal disease often spread via contaminated food and water associated with poor hygiene or use of unclean water. While we wait for the epidemiological data to ring bells at the public health authorities I would like to alert readers of this blog to give extra care to safe and hygienic handling of all food and drinks including drinking water. Improved personal hygiene, especially after use of toilets (particularly by those who have diarrhoeal disease) could help prevent spread. Improving hand hygiene by proper hand washing using soap and water and improved hand hygiene by food handlers (at home and public eateries, etc) is strongly recommended.

Children with severe diarrhoea, especially the very young among them, are likely to become dehydrated very quickly. It is therefore very important to ensure rehydration fluids are used to prevent dehydration by replacing the diarrhoeal losses. WHO ORS packets can be used to rehydrate and maintain hydration. Other locally available fluids such as plain (unsweetened) coconut water is also widely accepted and used.

Please seek care if severe diarrhoea, especially in very young children.


NB:

How to make ORS

• WHO ORS packets are readily available in Male’ and most, if not all, inhabited islands.
• Measure and place 1 litre of boiled and cooled water in a clean container (1 litre= 4 “ordinary” sized glasses or 2 small -500ml -mineral water bottles).
• Add the entire contents of the WHO ORS packet to the container and mix till all ORS powder is dissolved.
• This makes 1 litre of ORS.
• DO NOT add anything else to the solution! DO NOT boil the solution! Use within 24 hours of preparing and DISCARD any unused solution.

(Source: blog.niyaf.com)