Cholera cases on the rise

It’s stalking everyone in the city. And you could be the next victim. Gastroenteritis and cholera cases are rising by the day, though the BBMP health officials claim to the contrary. The BBMP chief health officer LT Gayathri was quoted recently as having said there are no cases of cholera in the city, but many government hospitals are regularly getting patients suffering from gastroenteritis.

Last month, official reports put the number of gastroenteritis cases reported at over 200. Recent evidence suggests that there has been no let up in the number of cases reported.

What causes gastroenteritis? According to Dr KNK Shetty of Manipal Hospital, hygiene, eating habits and the way food is prepared are the deciding factors. You can even contract gastroenteritis even in a 5-star hotel food, he points out.

Gastroenteritis is a highly communicable, water and food-borne disease, and maintaining hygiene is very essential, say doctors. Physicians warn delay in treating gastroenteritis can lead to kidney failure. Initial symptoms are dehydration and it is therefore important that loss of water is replaced to prevent dehydration.