Hospitals in the city have seen a sharp spurt in water-borne ailments, particularly gastroenteritis — a disease that spreads through contaminated food and water.
Docs say infections have gone up since onset of monsoon
MUMBAI: Hospitals in the city have seen a sharp spurt in water-borne ailments, particularly gastroenteritis — a disease that spreads through contaminated food and water.
Doctors at the Bombay Hospital say they have treated eight to 10 patients with gastroenteritis in the past seven days, while the Hinduja Hospital admitted at least 10 patients in the same time. Over the past fortnight, JJ Hospital admitted 150 patients with gastro, and Sion Hospital took in 130 patients.
“There has been a 40 per cent rise in the number of gastroenteritis patients since the beginning of the rains last week,” said Dr Ashish Tiwari, a physician at the Bombay Hospital. Gastroenteritis, hepatitis, amoebiasis, typhoid, leptospirosis, and cholera are the common water-borne infections during the rains.
“From the one or two patients in summer, I have seen at least nine patients showing symptoms of gastroenteritis in the last week,” said Dr Sandeep Acharya who practises in Kurla.
According to Tiwari, monsoon offers the virus optimal conditions for growth which is why “chances of infection rise with the advent of the rains”. Doctors advise steering clear of street food for a while.
“The most important thing to do is avoid roadside food and raw vegetables,” said Dr Devendra Desai, a gastroenterologist at the Hinduja Hospital. “A typical case of gastroenteritis usually lasts for four or five days. One should avoid antibiotics since they interfere with gastrointestinal activity. Patients should seek immediate medical help for dehydration,” he said.
According to the executive health officer in the BMC, Dr Jayaraj Thanekar, the rise in gastro cases is “not alarming”. “Gastroenteritis is endemic to the city throughout the year. Therefore it is not on the list of notified diseases,” Thanekar said. “But an increase in cases is expected in the beginning of the monsoon.”
He said the BMC was implementing measures to check the spread of the disease. “For instance, cooking is not allowed at any roadside stall,” he said.
Thanekar also insisted that municipal hospitals had not reported a steep rise in gastro cases. “These hospitals usually treat patients from the lower income group who have higher immunity levels and are not infected easily,” he said.
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