The number of diarrhea patients is increasing in Bandarban. Diarrhea is a problem in hilly areas due to contaminated water and climate change. In the last one week, 42 people have been admitted to Bandarban Sadar Hospital with diarrhea. However, only 7 patients have been admitted to Bandarban Sadar Hospital in the last one day.
According to the Bandarban Sadar Hospital, 42 people were admitted to the Sadar Hospital in a week from March 23 to 29 due to diarrhea. And till Wednesday morning 7 diarrhea patients have been admitted. Among them is a 6-month-old baby. Four of the six are children, the other three are between 18-46 years old.
Meanwhile, 8 people were admitted to Bandarban Sadar Hospital with diarrhea but some of them are taking doctor's advice and medicines from the outpatient department of the hospital. However, it has been reported that people are taking medicines from various drug stores (pharmacies) in Bandarban by showing the patients to the village doctors / pharmacists.
Sentu Chowdhury, a village doctor who owns a pharmacy in Madhyampara in Bandarban town, said people have been coming to his drug store with diarrhea for the past few days. Older people are more to suffer from diarrhea in the district. He said that 7/8 people came to his shop on Tuesday to buy diarrhea medicine. On Wednesday, 4 diarrhea patients came to his shop at the weekly market day to take medicine till 12 noon.
Bandarban Civil Surgeon Nihar Ranjan Nandi said that there is nothing to worry about having diarrhea. Children are suffering from diarrhea due to climate change. He said that although the diarrhea patients were from Sadar upazila, there were no cases of diarrhea in the other six upazilas of the district in the last few days. Dr. Nihar Ranjan Nandi also said that some people are suffering from diarrhea due to water and weather.
However, in Sadar Upazila, some people have been suffering from diarrhea in recent times, but the number of diarrhea cases in other six upazilas of the district is not.
The Civil Surgeon advised the people to be vigilant and not panic. "It's very hot now, so be careful when eating out." He advised to drink boiled water even if there is some water problem. Doctors say diarrhea is more common in the three months from March to May and in October and November.
Meanwhile, according to the district health department, 429 people were admitted to the hospital in Sadar upazila till March this year.
Earlier, in 2021, a total of 1,546 people were admitted to Sadar Hospital. However, none of them died.
According to the health department, those admitted with pneumonia and shortness of breath were referred to other hospitals for better treatment. However, diarrhea and malaria patients can be cured by treatment at Bandarban Hospital.
Bandarban Sadar Hospital Residential Medical Officer (RMO) said. Ziaul Haider said the weather is changing now, so children and the elderly are suffering from pneumonia, diarrhea, fever and colds.
Meanwhile, according to the Bandarban Civil Surgeon's Office, in 2021, there were 6,444 diarrhea cases among children and adults in the district. Meanwhile, one died of diarrhea in Alikadam and Thanchi in the district. Although it is a government account, this number is even higher as a private one.
According to the district health department, 956 people have contracted pneumonia in the district from November 10 last year to March 14 this year. In the first two months of this year, 1,231 people have contracted diarrhea in the district. Among them, Naikhyangchhari and Alikadam upazilas have the highest number of victims.