patients suffering from gastroenteritis underwent emergency treatment

PIMS treats 250 gastro patients in 24 hours Islamabad Over 250 patients suffering from gastroenteritis underwent emergency treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in the last 24 hours only. They were treated in the emergency and outpatient departments of the hospital’s adult and paediatric wings.

Fifteen per cent of the patients brought to the emergency of the main hospital were severely dehydrated, while 30 per cent had mild to moderate dehydration. The rest of the patients are said to have been discharged after medical advice, the hospital’s spokesperson Dr. Waseem Khawaja told this scribe.

Gastroenteritis may be caused by different species of bacteria. Also known as gastric flu, stomach flu and stomach virus, the condition is marked by severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and the small intestine, resulting in acute diarrhoea and vomiting. The condition usually has an acute onset, normally lasting 1-6 days, and is self-limiting.

School going children are particularly at high risk of falling prey to gastroenteritis, given their inclination to buy substandard food items and drinks available within and outside school premises. The bacteria causing gastroenteritis can be transferred through contaminated food and water. Some sources of the infection are improperly prepared food, substandard drinks, reheated meat dishes, seafood, dairy, and bakery products. The conditions in which food is transported, handled and prepared-both by suppliers as well as cooks working in restaurants and hotels-also predisposes many a customer to acquiring food-borne infections.
According to Dr. Waseem, children in the developing world can expect up to 6 or 7 bouts of severe diarrhoea every year. “Although oral rehydration programmes have cut the death toll significantly, at least 2.25 million people die every year as a direct result of diarrhoeal diseases,” he informed.

Referring to treatment, Dr. Waseem said, “Gastroenteritis is usually an acute and self-limited disease that does not require pharmacological therapy. The objective of treatment is to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Oral rehydration is the preferred method of replacing these losses in children with mild to moderate dehydration.”

The primary treatment of gastroenteritis in both children and adults is rehydration, i.e., replenishment of water and electrolytes lost in the stools. This is preferably achieved by giving the person oral rehydration therapy (ORT). Dr. Waseem said, mildly dehydrated individuals are given ORS 50ml/kg in the first four hours, followed by maintenance dose of 100ml/kg daily until the diarrhoea stops.

For moderate dehydration, ORS 100ml/kg is given within the first four hours, followed by 10 to 15ml/kg/hour. Intravenous rehydration is only necessary in severe dehydration. He shared that immunization is now recommended by the World Health Organisation in potential or actual outbreak situations. “The best prevention is good hygiene and improved sanitation. Food should be properly cooked and stored to prevent gastroenteritis. Suspect food and drinks should be avoided. Hands should be thoroughly washed before eating and after using the bathroom or changing diapers,” Dr. Waseem advised.The news
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