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Upsurge in diarrhoeal diseases in children not alarming
– CMO
By Sharmain Cornette
Although the Health Ministry has reported an increase in acute diarrhoeal diseases in children, this development according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, does not constitute an epidemic.
In fact, during an interview with this newspaper yesterday, he disclosed that statistics over the years reveal a common trend which suggests that at the latter part and beginning of a year children are more prone to diarrhoeal infections, vomiting and fever symptoms.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud
Several reports have reached this newspaper of children below the age of five developing the symptoms, with at least two related deaths. And since deaths can always be “a little tricky”, Dr. Persaud said that the Ministry is investigating all child deaths that have been reported. He revealed that at the moment it has been deduced that there is a mix in the underlying causes that lead to death.
“I cannot deny that diarrhoea can result in death, because it is a life-threatening situation, but we are working on this by trying to identify early danger signs and respond to them appropriately.”
Dr. Persaud stated that this situation should not be a cause for alarm, as it is his belief that it is linked to the weather patterns. “We do have an upsurge, particularly in diarrhoea and fever also, and I think it could be due to the fact that we did have a drought and safe water was scarce.” In addition, the infection rate, he said, could be associated to domestic practices by some households, linked to the unavailability of clean water, resulting in children’s exposure to unsanitary conditions.
Even though this upsurge is not considered threatening but is rather a “usual trend” according Dr Persaud, he revealed that the Ministry has started to circulate new guidelines for managing diarrhoea in all of the administrative regions. This move, he said, is premised on the fact that it was discovered during the latter part of last year that some health officials, both in the public and private sectors, were not adhering to the recommended approaches for diarrhoeal management.
For the treatment of acute diarrhoeal diseases, the Ministry of Health recommends rehydration and not extensive use of antibiotics as has occurred in recent times, Dr Persaud relayed. As a result, he said that efforts are being geared at re-emphasising the guidelines for management.
“Instead of just sending people away with treatment I have instructed that all of our regional and district hospitals should establish oral rehydration units, so when children come in with diarrhoea, they should sit them down there and administer the fluid to them in the presence of their parents or guardians and show them how to do it, and ensure that the child is fully rehydrated before they leave.”
The idea is no longer just to give them a prescription to go home and do what they feel might be appropriate, but actually administering the administrative therapy and whatever measurers they need to put in place.”
And to further prevent the infection rate from reaching one of outbreak-level proportion, the Ministry has embarked on a programme to re-educate the public about the importance of using clean and safe water, and of the risks that could emerge if they fail to adhere to hygienic practices. These hygiene measures, he stressed, can really make a huge impact in addressing the situation.
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