Patna: Hospitals witness rise in water-borne disease cases

PATNA: Hospitals across the city have reported a rise in cases of water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and acute gastroenteritis, apart from cold and upper respiratory tract infections during the last few weeks.
Another common complaint made by people was feeling of lump in throat though there were no symptoms of cough and fever.
“Almost 40% cases reported from different parts of the state to the telemedicine department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences- Patna ( AIIMS-P) were related to uneasy feeling in throat of some lump or something sticking,” said telemedicine head Dr Anil Kumar.
The symptom is known as ‘Globus Hystericus’. Now a days it is often caused due to fear of Covid-19 and people experiencing this feeling often refer to a feeling of lump in their throat. Some others describe the sensation as scratchy, throbbing, tense, or like they have a pill stuck in their throat. The sensation is not painful, but it can be annoying.
Normally such patients were asked to gargle with hot saline water and take some anti-allergic medicines which helped them to recover soon. “Sinusitis and tonsillitis were also reported as common problems in this pandemic age,” added Dr Anil.
“PMCH is also treating many patients suffering from breathing problems, throat problems, allergy, skin ailments and rise in blood sugar level,” said principal Dr VP Choudhary.
“Since the skin becomes dry in this season, there are many complaints of eczema and fungal infections. However, the 30-bed dengue ward has no patient,” Dr Choudhary added
However, two dengue cases have been reported from Patna, said Dr Subhash Chandra, director of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, Rajvanshinagar.
The Union ministry of health and family welfare has already issued guidelines for management of co-infections of Covid 19 with other diseases like dengue, chikanguniya and malaria.
Dr Binod Kumar Singh, superintendent, Nalanda Medical College & Hospital (NMCH) also confirmed rise in cases of diarrhoea, pneumonia and respiratory tract infections. “ One case of dengue was reported from our OPD on Monday,”he said.
Patna civil surgeon Dr Vibha Kumari Singh said no dengue case has been officially reported.