5,899 hospitalised with winter related diseases in 24 hours
The frequency of diseases such as acute respiratory infection, diarrhoea, jaundice, inflammation of the eye and fever has increased as the mercury dipped
A total of 5,899 patients suffering from winter-related diseases were hospitalised in different hospitals around the country in the last 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The frequency of diseases such as acute respiratory infection, diarrhoea, jaundice, eye inflammation and fever has increased as the mercury dipped.
The Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room of the DGHS said 929 patients were hospitalised with acute respiratory infection from 8 am Monday to 8 am Tuesday. As many as 1,958 patients have been admitted with diarrhoea and 3,012 with other diseases including jaundice and fever.
According to the DGHS, 1,557 in Chattogram division, 178 in Rajshahi, 329 in Rangpur, 1,825 in Khulna, 313 in Barishal, 24 in Sylhet, 878 in Dhaka and 495 in Mymensingh were admitted to hospital with a various winter-related illness.
The control room's assistant director Dr Ayesha Khatun said they got the figure based on the data provided by civil surgeon's offices in 64 districts of the country.
The DGHS said, 2,58,657 people were affected by winter-related diseases from November 1 to November 24, 2019. Among them, 62 died.
Specialists said winter related diseases are mainly caused by viruses. Different kinds of diseases, including diarrhoea, increase in winter due to the rotavirus. We have to drink clean and pure water to safeguard ourselves from these diseases.
ABM Abdullah, medicine specialist and ex-dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said, "As children and the elderly have low immunity, we have to take extra care of them to protect them from winter diseases. At this time, it is not necessary to take an antibiotic if one has a fever, cold and cough. Everyone should wear warm clothes, stay clean and drink pure water."