Hospitals see sudden surge of patients with cold-related illness

Noman Mosharef :
The cold related diseases especially childhood pneumonia, cough and cold have increased rapidly across the country as the cold wave sweeps over the Bangladesh.
As a result, the hospitals are facing hardship to render treatment to the affected children and ensure beds for new patients as the victims are increasing gradually.
A dedicated hospital for child treatment, Bangladesh Sishu Hospital and Institute (BSHI) located in the capital’s Sher-e-Bnagla Nagar, reported that 16 children with cold complains, on average, were admitted to the hospital, while 70 others were taking outpatient services at the 650-bed hospital daily.
“Casualty in pneumonia increases on account of cold weather. A total of 43 children died from the disease in our hospital in November. I do not have the figure of casualties for the month of December. But it will be close to that of November,” Dr Jahangir Alam, Director of BSHI said.
The 2,600-bed Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) reported a 20 per cent rise in the daily number of patients with cold conditions as the hospital has been struggling to accommodate additional patients over the past few days. The DMCH has already run out of beds for patients now spilling onto corridors.
Cases of pneumonia increases during winter season around the country every year, said Prof Dr Iffat Ara Shamsad, head of the pediatric department at DMCH. About 10 children with the disease are being admitted to DMCH everyday on an average in recent times, she added.
In the first seven days of January, the BSHI admitted 83 children with cold complains, including pneumonia, viral fever, breathing difficulties and diarrhoea.
Champa Salma, a resident from capital Lalbagh area has admitted her 14 months old son Sassoto Sabit with pneumonia on first day of the year 2023.
She said that her boy was struggling with breath complexity and she immediately ran to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital (BSMMU) OPD and doctor suggested for admission.
We got admission in BSMMU on December 27 and later my son’s condition deteriorated and doctor referred to BSHI, she continued.
Salma said that now her baby’s condition is better showing gradually improvement. Pneumonia, caused by bacteria,viruses or fungi, leaves children to fight for their lives as their lungs fill with pus and fluid.
To avoid death, physicians urge parents to take extra caution if any child shows symptoms including cough, cold or high fever, and breathing problem.
Delayed hospital admission is the main reason behind deaths of such patients, according to Dr Jahangir.
“If any child has a cold, parents should stay connected with physicians. If the child has problem of breathing, parents should take them to the nearby hospital,” he said.
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data showed that 3,64,654 people were admitted to hospitals across the country with cold-related diseases between November 14 and January 5, including 2,38,219 patients in Dhaka division. During the time, 77 people died of such diseases across the country but no death was reported from Dhaka division.
However, the divisional health office in Rangpur reported 218 cold-related deaths between November 15 and December 31 in the division’s eight districts.
Of the deaths reported by the Rangpur divisional health office, 53 were recorded in Rangpur district, followed by 36 in Kurigram, 31 in Dinajpur, 26 in Gaibandha, 22 in Panchagarh, 19 in Nilphamari, 17 in Lalmonirhat and 14 in Thakurgaon.