40% rise in stomach infections with onset of summer, say docs
The onset of summers, combined with other factors like intake of contaminated food and water, has led to a spurt in number of stomach infection cases being reported in the city. Doctors have claimed 40% increase in the number of people seeking treatment for gastroenteric and stomach flu in the last one week.
The onset of summers, combined with other factors like intake of contaminated food and water, has led to a spurt in number of stomach infection cases being reported in the city. Doctors have claimed 40% increase in the number of people seeking treatment for gastroenteric and stomach flu in the last one week.
According to doctors of private hospitals, there has been an increase in the footfall at the outpatient department (OPD). "Till one week back, we used to treat about 250 patients daily. However, there has been a sudden increase to more than 300 patients a day. Most complain of stomach flu and gastroenteritis," said Dr SP Yadav of Pushpanjali hospital.
The doctors said that children and young adults are at a higher risk. "Nearly 70% of the stomach infection patients are kids. The presence of the contagious viral strains, more exposure to outside food and lower immunity is the reason for children being prone to the seasonal infection," said Dr Vishal Sehgal, head of emergency and in-patient services at Artemis Health Sciences.
The infections start off with pain in the abdomen and vomiting. "When the patient starts showing signs of an upset stomach, they should get admitted. Strangely, we have always seen men being affected the most by such infections," added Yadav.
One can nip the infection in the bud itself by resorting to home remedies such as drinking ORS of electral powder or a salt and sugar mixture diluted in water. "This essentially checks the salt content in the body. Most importantly, one must eat light food and drink lot of water," explained Sehgal.
Some of the symptoms are nausea, stomach ache, and increased thirst.