An increasing number of children are getting diarrhoea, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases as a cold spell has continued sweeping Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts for the last couple of days.

Affected children and their mothers are crowding the floor, corridor and even the staircases of Thakurgaon and Panchagarh Sadar Hospitals as accommodation capacity of the children's wards is too small.

At least 162 children have been admitted to the children's ward of the hospitals in last two days.

Of them, at least 129 patients were admitted to the children's ward of Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital against only 18-seat, hospital sources said.

Of the 129 children, 68 have been affected with diarrhoea, 24 with pneumonia and 37 with other cold related diseases, said Dr Shajahan Newaj, senior consultant of the hospital.   

Two or three nurses, who are supposed to serve 18 patients, at the children's ward are facing huge trouble to cope with the increasing number of patients.

Besides, at least 33 children affected with various cold related diseases were admitted to Panchagarh Sadar Hospital, Dr Rajiul Karim, resident medical officer (RMO) of the hospital, said.

The patients at the two hospitals have to share a single bed with three or four others. 

With the number of patients growing, most are now staying on the verandas, corridors and staircases.

Besides, at least 156 children, most of them suffering from respiratory problems, receive treatment at the outdoor of Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital on Sunday, while at least 60 patients were treated at Panchagarh Sadar Hospital.

As there is no child specialist at the upazila level hospital and clinics, a number of guardians are thronging Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital with their children, Dr Shajahan Newaj said.  

Fluctuation of temperature between days and nights causes pneumonia, diarrhoea and other illnesses and children are more vulnerable to these infections as their immune system is weak.

The situation is likely to improve in a short time as the weather is getting warmer, he added.