Food, water contamination blamed for gastro cases in Bangalore

Gastro cases have doubled up in the city over the past one month, said Dr Tejasvi Nataraj, consultant, internal medicines, BGS Global Hospital. The doctor is seeing around four to five cases every day.

“Mostly, this is due to food contamination and sometimes water contamination. Usually, it is taking two to three days for the patient to recover,” said Dr Tejasvi. It is better if people avoid eating out this season to prevent gastroenteritis (GE), he added. Not just GE, contaminated water can transmit other diseases like viral, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, cholera and typhoid. “Illness from acute gastroentritis can range from mild annoyances to devastating dehydrating illnesses that can kill a victim in hours. Acute gastrointestinal illnesses rank second only to upper respiratory infections as most common illnesses worldwide,” said Dr Srinivasa Devashetty, consultant, Fortis Hospital.

“In recent years, there has been a 10-fold increase in Viral Hepatitis A and E. These are transmitted by contaminated water, inadequately boiled milk, salads, shellfish and frozen fruits,” he added.

Incidences of viral fever are also high in the city. “While viral fever is common in this season, if the fever does not subside in three to five days, one should consult a doctor,” said Dr Aravind Jagadeesh, consultant, Suguna Hospital.