Surge in child patients demands proper response
It's alarming to see reports about thousands of patients—mostly children suffering from diarrhoea, pneumonia, and cold-related illnesses—being admitted to hospitals across the country every day. In the first four days of January alone, 139 children with pneumonia and 155 with diarrhoea were treated at Dhaka Shishu Hospital and Institute. This is just one example from Dhaka. Hospitals in other districts are also overwhelmed by the influx of diarrhoea patients as winter intensifies. At the icddr,b, an average of 675 children were admitted daily in 2024; this number has risen to 914 in the last 18 days. Among them, 60 percent of the children affected by diarrhoea were infected with rotavirus, which typically peaks in winter. Its vaccine is not yet part of the national immunisation programme in Bangladesh.
While the vulnerability of under-five children to cold-related viral diseases is well-documented, it is disheartening that many parents across the country remain unaware of the risks. Children are often brought to hospitals only when symptoms worsen due to improper disease management. Many mothers, for example, lack the knowledge of preparing and administering oral rehydration solution (ORS) correctly. On December 30, a nine-month-old baby was admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital with diarrhoea after being given improperly prepared saline, resulting in high sodium levels in his body that led to kidney failure. Such incidents are unacceptable, especially considering Bangladesh's prior success in managing and raising awareness about diarrhoea.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
A recent icddr,b study of 350 mothers revealed that 88 percent lacked correct knowledge about ORS, while 72 percent used incorrect methods to administer it to their children. This underscores the urgent need for public awareness campaigns. Furthermore, the state of accommodation and treatment facilities in hospitals is alarming. In many hospitals, children with diarrhoea are treated on the floor due to a lack of beds, and parents are forced to stand for hours holding saline bags because of a lack of stands. Complaints about medicine shortages are also common. These challenges demand immediate action.
We urge the authorities to ensure that public hospitals are adequately equipped to handle the growing number of diarrhoea and pneumonia cases. Raising awareness about proper diarrhoea treatment and ORS preparation at home is also essential. Considering the significant number of rotavirus infections, the government should strengthen nationwide vaccination programmes, and diagnostic facilities for rotavirus must also be made available at all district-level hospitals to expedite treatment.
Given the likely role of poor air quality in the rising pneumonia cases, especially in Dhaka, the government must also take urgent steps to improve air quality during winter. A holistic approach from our health authorities is crucial to address these interlinked issues effectively.
Comments