PUNE: Paediatricians from the city have witnessed drastic fall in gastro diseases among children following the immunisation and sanitation drives across the state. However, in a worrying trend, a rise of around 70 per cent in viral infections was also noted among children recently.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Dr Sanjay Lalwani, Medical Director of the Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College and Hospital said, “An overall increase in diseases coming from viruses is on the rise. Earlier, we would witness around 70 to 80 per cent cases from gastro diseases, but now the number of cases are reduced to 20 per cent,” said Dr Lalwani.
He mentioned that the lesser number of gastro diseases can be attributed to the increase and rigorous drive by the present government to increase sanitation programmes.
“There has also been a rigorous drive by the government to ensure that rotavirus vaccine reaches as many children. This vaccine is used to protect against rotavirus infections. We are now seeing many Indian giants making these vaccines here in the country making them cheap and easily accessible for everyone. But such initiatives have reduced the number of bacterial infections among children,” noted Dr Lalwani.
VACCINATIONS AND AWARENESS
- Sassoon General Hospital in Pune has also been seeing the same trend. Doctors at the hospital said that the incidence of children with gastro related illnesses has reduced while the viral flu has increased at an alarming rate in this year.
- Dr Minakshi Nalbale, pediatric surgeon from Sassoon General Hospital said, “Because of increased vaccination and improved awareness on sanitation the gastro cases have seen a drop. Infectious disease can be prevented with effective intervention, but the prevention of viral diseases is not entirely in our control. This year we have witnessed a rise in viral cases and the most common being viral flu.”
