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CHATTOGRAM, Jan 8, 2025 (BSS) - People of different age group particularly the old and children have been affected mostly following a significant increases of cold-related diseases in the city and different upazilas of the district.

Situation get worsened following recent cold-wave causing a sudden rise of intense cold-related diseases, including bronchiolitis, breathing problem, pneumonia and diarrhea, that has affected badly the people, particularly the infants, minors and elderly ones.

According to sources in the pediatric ward of Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), rush of patients with acute respiratory infection (ARI) and diarrhea has increased over the last six days.

Doctors and nurses in hospitals are scrambling to keep up with the surge in patients.

Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam told BSS that over 21,000 patients suffering from chilling cold weather have been undergoing treatment at 38 hospitals in Chattogram city and district, including 20 public and private hospitals and 15 Upazila Health Complexes.

Prices of medicine and other medicare tools have also increased due to poor supply, their excess demands as well as tricky policy adopted by a section unscrupulous medicine traders by illegal hoarding.
 
Tapan Das, a pharmacy owner of Chawkbazar, said the cost of cold-related medicines have increased by 10 to 15 percent on average due to poor supply by wholesalers.

Port city's key public and private healthcare delivery facilities, including Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Chattogram General Hospitals, Chattogram Ma-O-Shisu Hospital, Chattogram Child Care Hospital, Park View Hospital and International Medical College Hospital have been struggling with heavy influx of patients suffering from diarrhoea, pneumonia and cold-related fevers.

Most of the patients admitted to the hospitals with cold and fever are children while number of children seeking outdoor treatment became almost doubled compared to normal time.

Sixteen months old Rafiqul Islam, from Patiya has been suffering from fever and diarrhea for several days along with symptoms of cold, cough, and breathing difficulties.

"Doctor advised us to use nebulizer for keeping his breathing system normal. But, he is in a very critical condition due to fever as well as diarrhoea," said Rafiqul's father Nurul Islam.

"It worsens every winter. Not only my child, many children in our neighborhood are also suffering from cold-related fever," he said.

According to doctors, winter typically brings an uptick in various diseases including diarrhea, cold, cough, and respiratory problems among children.

Talking to the news agency, eminent child specialist Dr Badrul Alam said sudden drop of temperature with severe cold wave has caused increase of the number of patients suffering from cold-related complications twice or thrice.

A large number of children are suffering from respiratory infections and pneumonia, doctors said adding, asthma cases among children have also raised alarmingly, he added.

Unfortunately, many parents bring their children to the hospital after initially self-medication from local pharmacies, which only worsen their health complications, said the doctors.

Eight-month-old Maysha Akter from Rangunia upazila was admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital on December 29. Her condition has improved slightly with the use of nebulizer three times a day, but he is still being treated for pneumonia.

Rafique is just one of the hundred other children who are currently admitted to the hospital with cold, cough, fever, diarrhoea, pneumonia, and other illnesses.

Dr. Mezbah Uddin, also a child specialist, explained that the cold wave coupled with air pollution have posed significant health hazards for children.

The number of cold-related illnesses among patients is especially high, with many children currently hospitalized due to pneumonia. As the cold intensifies, the number of such patients is expected to rise, he observed.

Child specialist Dr Muslim Uddin Sabuj, director of International Medical College Hospital, mentioned that chilly cold couple with air pollution is taking a toll on children's health.

Children are experiencing fever, cold, cough, and throat irritation. Children under two years old are suffering from bronchilitis, while those over two years old are suffering from pneumonia. Children with asthma are at high risk during the winter months, he said.

Dr Sabuj also highlighted that winter increases the risk of diarrhea among children, as they tend to drink less water compared to the summer months. He advised to keep children hydrated during winter along with recommending that adults with fever, cold, or cough should wear masks at home to prevent infecting children.

"It is crucial to take extra care of children during this time as chilling cold makes the children most vulnerable to health complexities", he added.

Dr. Kutub Uddin, Assistant Professor of Chattogram Medical College Hospital, explained that pneumonia symptoms include cough, fever, breathing difficulties, loss of appetite and vomiting.

Dr. Kutub Uddin also emphasized the importance of breastfeeding for infants less than six months, as it significantly reduces health risks.

Timely vaccinations should be ensured for all children and those with weak immune systems or those prone to pneumonia, should receive annual influenza vaccine in addition to their regular immunizations to reduce the risk of pneumonia, he said.