“Doctor thank you for what you said the last time you came here! “
One enrollee said with sincere appreciation when I visited their office this week. I was still running a search in my head to place the face, when he went on and explained that he was the one who spoke to me about the digestive system challenges he was having. I had encouraged him to try to have a piece of fruit with his meals as often as he could while increasing his water intake. He told me it worked like magic.
You should try it too.
With all the attention on COVID19, I thought you should know that there is a significant outbreak of cholera across many states of the country. Look at the numbers from the NCDC
Cholera is a particularly vicious disease characterized by rapid fluid losses that can be more than 2 liters per hour through simultaneous stooling and vomiting. This can be devastating in children who have little body mass. Women especially those who are pregnant and children under 6 are particularly vulnerable.
Cholera is transmitted via contact with the fecal matter of an infected person and symptoms can begin in as little as a few hours or days after contact. The symptoms include diarrhea, described as looking like rice water, and vomiting
Usually, these occur a number of times in 2/3hours and can result in severe weakness and exhaustion, children are often unable to cry, produce tears or urine. Sunken eyes and a dry mouth are other symptoms that could be observed in individuals infected with this condition.
The most effective thing that can be done is to rehydrate the person as quickly as possible using ORS (oral rehydration solution). These are readily available at pharmacies everywhere and everyone especially every parent should have at least one dose of ORS in the medicine cabinet. You must get anyone with those symptoms to a hospital in the shortest possible time. Death can occur in hours for children.
If you have younger children at home ensure that their water is boiled and filtered. Cholera is quite straightforward to prevent.
- Wash your hands with soap and water before you touch your kids or your fridge
- Wash fruits and vegetables that you buy from anywhere
- Be very picky about eating food outside your house
- Be very careful about the water your young kids consume
- Dispose of refuse in your home properly. Cover refuse bins to reduce the chances of flies making contact with them.
So please before you eat that fruit or vegetable ensure that you wash it properly with salt and water.
Till the next one
Dr. Efobi.
