Heat wave taking toll on port city babies

With a severe heat wave sweeping across the country for the last two months taking its toll on the people, children in many areas are falling sick and suffering from heat illness.

In Chittagong, the highest temperature was 34 degree Celsius on Saturday, while the lowest was 26.6 degree Celsius, pursuant to Chittagong Met Office.

Yesterday when visiting different hospitals including Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and Chattagram Ma-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College in the port city, this correspondent saw parents rushing their sick children to paediatric wards of the hospitals.

Fardin Islam, a one-and-a-half-month old baby, was wheezing in a bed at the CMCH child health ward, while its mother, Reshmi Akter, was sitting beside with a worrying look at the baby as it was being given oxygen.

With severe breathing difficulties, Fardin was admitted to the hospital on Thursday, said Reshmi.

Another 11-month-old baby, Abdullah-Al-Siam, was admitted to the ward with the same disease on Saturday.

"After being locally treated, Siam was brought to CMCH as his health condition was not improving," said Siam's mother Minu Akhter. 

Dr Pranab Kumar Chowdhury, head of CMCH's child health ward, said a total of 322 children were admitted to the ward on Sunday against its 102 seats. Most of the patients were suffering from diseases like pneumonia, influenza and diarrhoea.

He said children under five years of age were highly vulnerable to different diseases related to heat in the summer.

Apart from keeping their children away from the family members infected with diseases including influenza, mothers ought to ensure balanced and nutritious diet for their children to prevent the disease, added Pranab.

Dr Nasir Uddin Mahmud, associate professor of child health at CMCH, suggested taking safe drinking water and avoiding cold water as well as ice-cream during scorching heat.

Dr Mahmud A Chowdhury Arju, professor of paediatrics at Chattagram Ma-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College, told this correspondent that the number of babies suffering from the diseases was on rise at the hospital too.

A total of 215 children were admitted to the hospital's paediatric ward yesterday, as per the hospital source.

"Mothers should breastfeed their babies, which will help create antibody in their (babies') health," he said, adding, "The parents should consult doctors immediately if their babies suffer from breathing problems and emesis."

The public hospitals apart, parents are also seen taking their sick babies to different clinics in the city.