The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Pediatricians on Wednesday expressed concern over the growing number of diarrhoeal cases across the country and called for creating mass awareness to prevent the disease.

The disease is killing children primarily, they said at an emergency meeting of Bangladesh Society for Pediatric Infectious Disease (BSPID), a newly floated forum of pediatricians.

They said dehydration and malnutrition were together contributing to higher mortality of children, said a press release.

President of BSPID Prof Manzoor Hossain chaired the function held at BSPID office here.

According to statistics, the number of diarrhoea affected children in hospitals shot up last week, showing a 50 percent rise at the ICDDR,B and Dhaka Shishu Hospital (DSH).

The rise of temperature may further aggravate the situation, said a scientist of ICDDR,B, where over 600 diarrhoea affected people were admitted in the last three days.

The BSPID suggested some preventive measures to fight diarrhoea. These include consumption of boiled water or using of purifier for drinking purposes, washing of hands before taking food and keeping food covered so that flies and insects can not sit.

It also suggested treatments for the diarrhoea-affected people. These include continuation of breast-feeding, drinking of oral saline, coconut water and freshwater, providing of zinc therapy and reporting to nearby hospital in case of deteriorating situation.