MULTAN, May 9: Sixty-eight patients suffering from gastroenteritis, 49 of them in serious condition, were treated at the Nishtar Hospital’s emergency in a day. Dr Fahim said on Wednesday 19 patients were discharged after treatment, while 49 serious patients were admitted.

He said during scorching heat, people did not care for quality of the liquids. “Unhygienic beverages being sold on roadside by vendors exposed to dust and flies, thus become a cause of gastroenteritis,” he explained.

He said sliced fruits, like watermelon, being sold on roadside and unhygienic ice from ice factories were other sources of this disease.

He advised the people to cover themselves carefully to avoid exposure to sun and consume liquid, particularly salted Lassi (churned yogurt mixed with cold water), during hot and sultry weather.

He stressed that the authorities should take samples of water from the ice factories for quality testing so that they could be compelled to use clean water.—APP