MOTHER'S CARE: A baby suspected to be suffering from gastro-enteritis at Jakkarayana Kere being treated at a private hospital at Seshadripuram in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE: Gastro-enteritis has struck again. Thirty-four persons have been admitted to the Isolation Hospital here for gastro-enteritis, 12 of them reported on Thursday.

Most of these cases were from Srirampura, Prakashnagar and Jakkarayanakere areas. Many patients were admitted to private hospitals.

More than 10 children from a remand home near NIMHANS have been admitted to Isolation Hospital for gastro-enteritis in the past two days. At least two children have tested positive for cholera.

Director of Isolation Hospital C.R. Thyagaraja told The Hindu that cases of gastro-enteritis were pouring in at Isolation Hospital.

"We are getting more than 20 cases everyday and are admitting around eight patients daily," he said.

Mr. Thyagaraja said water and food from the remand home had been tested at the laboratory and were found to be free of contamination.

Lack of hygiene

"It seems to be a case of poor personal hygiene leading to gastro-enteritis," he said.

Four children were admitted to the Maruti Nursing Home on Thursday after they complained of severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

Six-year-old Deepa from Jakkarayanakere and 10-month-old Muthyalamma were among the patients.

Three patients were referred to the Isolation Hospital. The hospital head, Anjaneya, said two patients had tested positive for cholera.

He advised people to drink only boiled water and avoid cut fruits.

Gastro-enteritis is passage of loose stools more frequently than what is normal for that individual.

It is most often caused because of infection by bacteria such as E. coli and Vibrio cholerae or by certain viruses and parasites such as Giardia.

Symptoms of this condition include nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

Individuals with the illness are likely to get dehydrated, which may lead to light-headedness, weakness, confusion, kidney failure and even death.

Last October, 21 cases of cholera were confirmed at the Isolation Hospital.

In February and May last year, three cases of cholera each were confirmed. In March, two persons tested positive for cholera and in June, 13 persons tested positive.

Doctors said many cases were because of infected drinking water and poor personal hygiene.

"Drinking water, faeces and sewage all get mixed up in these areas following rainy spells. This leads to greater chances of a person becoming infected with bacteria," they explained.

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