As temperatures are gradually going up in April, there is an alarming rise in the number of people affected with diarrhoea.
Until Monday, at least 17,609 diarrhoea patients were admitted to the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).
The figure of the first 22 days of the month depicts that on average, 800 patients were treated at the specialized hospital in Dhaka’s Mohakhali. The daily average was just 504 in March.
However, the estimate between April 16 and 22 shows a dangerous surge – with 863 diarrhoea patients being admitted to the icddr’b per day on average over the period. To break down the numbers, that is nearly three patients every five minutes or nearly 36 patients every hour.
Even Tuesday, there seemed to be no lull in the queue of patients lining up for treatment. Until 2pm, 454 people had been admitted.
Each year, the hospital sees the number of patients skyrocket during summer when temperatures run high.
The average temperature until April 22 was a little over 34 °C, with Tuesday’s temperature in Dhaka recorded at 35.6 °C – the hottest this month.
Weather forecasts predict a further rise in Dhaka’s temperature, reaching 40°C on April 25, 26, 28, and 29.
Dr Azharul Islam Khan, chief physician at the icddr,b, said the main reason for the diarrhoea outbreak is people’s lack of hygiene and unhealthy diet, which are further worsened by the sweltering heat.
He noted that the number of patients was significantly higher than the previous year, cautioning that it might be even higher next year.
According to Dr Azharul, 65-70% of the patients are adults, with most patients coming from low income groups.
He said: “Patients not only from parts of Dhaka city, but from its outskirts and even other districts also rushing to the hospital.
“In many cases, people do not have a choice to drink potable water or have hygienic food. This contributes to the severe diarrhoea outbreak.”
Habibur Rahman came all the way from Kishoreganj for his five-year-old daughter’s treatment.
“My daughter has been ill for the last 10-12 days. She was being catered to at a local hospital before being moved to Dhaka,” he said.
Imran Hossain, 22, was admitted at the iccddr’b on Tuesday afternoon after a case of food poisoning.
His father Mohor Ali, a resident of Laxmi Bazar in the capital, said Imran suddenly fell ill after having his supper the previous night.
Unhygienic food grow popular as weather gets hotter
Aminul, a street vendor selling seasonal fruits, was seen selling sliced mangoes and guavas uncovered just a few feet away from the icddr’b main entrance on Tuesday afternoon.
He claimed his income has swelled over the past few days as the temperature has gone up.
“I used to sell mangoes and guavas to some 100 customers a day, but the sales volume has doubled recently,” he said.
Abul Kalam, a roadside drink seller at Mohakhali, said his customers number around 500, up from 200-300 in early April. The ice that Kalam was using to make his drinks was visibly filthy. When asked where he got the water for the drinks, he jerked alarmingly and shrugged the question off and continued cutting up lemons in the open.
