Diarrhoea outbreak in Himachal Pradesh: Amid a Diarrhoea outbreak across Himachal Pradesh, 34 new cases were reported from 10 villages of Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur in 24 hours. According to official, the total number of patients in the district stands at 286.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr R K Agnihotri said, as quoted by news agency PTI, the 34 cases were detected till Thursday night.
Of the total 286 cases, 14 patients are in hospital while 193 have been discharged. The remaining patients are getting treated at home, he told PTI. 12 villages of Gram Panchayats Lamblu, Chamned, Gasota, Bafrin and Pandher in Hamirpur district have been reporting diarrhoea cases since last Friday. The area has a population of around 4,550.
He also said that a team from the health department visited the affected villages and advised people to take proper care.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has sought details about the outbreak of the disease in the affected villages of the district. He also directed the health department to ensure that there was no shortage of medicines and other facilities.
Sukhu has directed the Jal Shakti Vibhag to chlorinate all the water sources properly and ensure that neat and clean water is made available to the people of the district to avoid the further spread of the disease.
A similar outbreak affected more than 400 people in Hamirpur in March this year. It took the administration around 10 days to bring the situation under control.
In January last year, about 1,000 people had contracted diarrhoea in the Rangas area of Nadaun, the assembly constituency of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. It resurfaced in June, affecting 10 panchayats adjoining Hamirpur town.
What is Diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea is a condition in which there is an occurrence of loose or watery stool (poop). It is an extremely common condition. In some cases, it’s the only symptom. At other times, it may be associated with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or weight loss.
Diarrhea is usually short-lived, lasting no more than a few days. However, when diarrhea lasts beyond a few days into weeks, it usually means that there’s another problem — such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or a more serious disorder, including ongoing infection, celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
What are the symptoms of Diarrhoea?
According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms associated with diarrhea (loose, watery stools) may include:
- Belly cramps or pain.
- Bloating.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Fever.
- Blood in the stool.
- Mucus in the stool.
- Urgent need to have a bowel movement.
When should you consult a doctor?
If you’re an adult, see your doctor if:
- Your diarrhea persists beyond two days with no improvement.
- You become dehydrated.
- You have severe abdominal or rectal pain.
- You have bloody or black stools.
- You have a fever above 102 F (39 C).
In children, particularly young children, diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration and this can be fatal.
What are the causes of Diarrhoea?
Many diseases and conditions can cause diarrhea, including viruses like rotavirus, exposure to certain bacteria, such as E. coli, and medicines, such as antibiotics, can cause diarrhea, digestive issues, and certain food products.
How to treat Diarrhoea?
Most cases of diarrhea clear on their own within a couple of days without treatment. If your diarrhea is caused by a more serious condition, consult a doctor immediately.
