200 CHILDREN TREATED FOR DIARRHOEA IN 3 DAYS

MANZINI – The Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital has claimed there is an outbreak of diarrhoea in the country which has seen about 200 children being attended to in a space of three days at the hospital.

The minors are suffering from gastro-enteritis which is reportedly fatal if left untreated.
Dr Tesfa Getahua said the hospital had so far treated over 200 children suffering from the diarrhoea, which is an infection of the stomach and intestines.

This type of diarrhoea affected children from three months to three years old.

Transmitted

The doctor said the disease could be easily transmitted to other persons through hands or touching objects that the infected person had touched.
All the children admitted at the children’s ward were in the company of their mothers and were in drips, some were given the Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) as they were dehydrated due to the diarrhoea.

“Some have been turned back and referred to other hospitals as we could not accommodate all of them in the children’s ward. It could be fatal if not treated and may also cause vomiting, tummy pain and other symptoms.

“In most cases the infection clears within a few days, but sometimes takes longer. The main risk is dehydration, that is why the children admitted at the hospital are all on drips, those discharged are given oral rehydrating salts (ORS),” the doctor said.
Dr Getahua further stated that the severity of the diarrhoea could range from a mild tummy upset for a day or two with some mild diarrhoea, to severe diarrhoea and vomiting for several days or longer.

Contact

“This kind of diarrhoea is easily spread from an infected person to another by close contact. This is often because of the virus being present on the infected person’s hands after they have been to the toilet.

“Surfaces or objects touched by the infected person can also allow transmission of the virus,” the doctor added.

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