KARACHI, Aug 9: A surge is registered in the cases of gastro along with other waterborne diseases at major healthcare facilities, including the Lyari General Hospital, National Institute of Child Health and the Civil Hospital - Karachi.

Concerned professionals, mentioning that it was an expected scenario following the recent showers in city, said immediate referral and medical intervention was particularly required in the context of under-five children suffering from the ailment.“Malnourishment, a largely common phenomenon in our children below five enhances their vulnerability to complications linked to dehydration,” Prof Ayesha Mehnaz, head of Pediatrics, Civil Hospital, said here on Wednesday.

In specific context of Lyari, she said comparatively older children (coming in the bracket of 10 years plus) were also reporting with hepatitis A and E.

Fearing an outbreak of cholera in the area, she said stagnant water witnessed at almost every nook and corner of the town had exposed children as well as adults to high risk of getting inflicted with varied infections and illnesses.

Answering a question, she said immunizable diseases including typhoid were also expected to increase in local children. This was said to be besides the fact that children with measles, chicken pox and tuberculosis had been reporting frequently even before the monsoons.

“Tuberculosis is contracted by children from an adult patient suffering from the disease,” the paediatrician said.

Dr Afshan, associated with the NICH, said a three-fold increase had been noticed in the number of children reporting at the facility with gastro enteritis.

She said there might be rise in the cases of oral-fecal infections.

With regard to the NICH, the doctor said most of the people were coming with the complaint of diarrhoea and vomiting and/or with severe cramps. A majority of them was released after required medication, but those reporting severe dehydration have to be admitted and provided with required assistance including intravenous and oral therapy.

There was said to be no shortage of necessary medicines at the NICH and the CHK. However, in context of the Lyari General Hospital it was found that the availability of even essential medication was an issue and the doctors concerned had to arrange these with the support of local philanthropists.

Dr Khalid Shaikh, EDO for health, city government, told APP that special health units had been established in the CDGK's identified health facilities in all 18 towns and they were not only adequately manned but had no shortage of medicines and relevant supplies.

All doctors were of the unanimous opinion that parents and care-takers had to ensure consumption of only adequately boiled water by children as well as adults.

Mothers were particularly advised to see that their offspring did not purchase and eat edibles prepared and/or sold by street vendors under poor hygienic conditions.

“They must under all conditions see that food prepared or cooked at homes is taken and that it must be necessarily prepared with due care for cleanliness of their hands as well as utensils,” they elaborated, urging mothers to also ensure proper hand-washing of children before and after meals.—APP