Water-borne diseases: Patients’ number goes up in hospitals

LUDHIANA: With the onset of monsoon season, there has been an increase in the number of patients suffering from water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and gastroenteritis.


Doctors of major city hospitals claimed that more people are coming with primary complaints of water-borne diseases from different areas. The district health department claimed that it happens every year and there is no epidemic-like situation in the city.

Patients are coming from various areas like Chandigarh Road, Giaspura, Shimlapuri, Jawaddi, Panjabi Bagh, Daba besides internal areas.

Dr Rajeev Mahajan, MD, medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said, “More cases of cholera and diarrhoea are reported in the emergency and OPD of the hospital and common causes in most of the cases are mixing of potable water with sewage and consumption of unhygienic food.”

He said people who are coming with complaints of cholera or diarrhoea reveal that they had golgappas a day or two before they felt pain in the abdomen. He said some of the patients have been suffering from serious dehydration as well.

Dr Navjot Singh, head of medicine department, Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), said there is increase in the number of patients coming to the hospital. Against two to three cases earlier, the hospital is getting 10 to 15 patients with diarrhoea like symptoms.

He also claimed that patients suffering from typhoid are also coming to the hospital for treatment. He said people are coming from different localities. Dr Singh said water contamination is the major cause and people should also adopt some measures to avoid getting ill.

Dr Avinash Jindal, MD, medicine, civil hospital, said the contaminated water supply is to be blamed for the rise in number of patients. He said over 50 patients are coming with diarrhoea complaints.

District epidemiologist Dr Ramesh Kumar said, “There was no outbreak in any part of the city and cases were scattered. We are keeping tabs on the situation and conducting surveys in sensitive areas.”