Belagavi district witnesses surge in common ailments

Belagavi: The district is witnessing a surge in cases of common ailments such as the common cold, fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea, largely due to contaminated food, water, and extreme weather conditions. Continuous rainfall over the past week has further exacerbated the situation, adversely affecting the health of residents. Additionally, the district is grappling with the emergence of dengue cases. Health department officials have emphasised heightened surveillance in areas near water sources and have implemented preventive measures to curb the spread of the disease.There are about 12.5 lakh households in the district, including rural and urban areas. The health department staff is visiting households every 15 days to create awareness about dengue, chikungunya and other viral diseases.According to a survey carried out by the health department from Jan to April, 56 cases of dengue have been confirmed and 643 suspected cases have been reported in Belagavi district, including Ramdurg, Khanapur, Bailhongal, Belagavi, Chikodi, Gokak, Hukkeri and Belagavi Rural. A total of 2,230 typhoid cases were reported during the period. As many as 119 people suffered from vomiting, 83 confirmed cases of tuberculosis and 67 cases of hepatitis were also reported. Deepak, a resident of Shahapur said due to untimely rains last week, people’s health is fluctuating and they are facing problems like fever, dysentery and stomach ache.Raising awareness In view of the surge in cases of common ailments, the health department is involved in raising awareness among people in this regard. The department has advised people to visit the nearest govt hospital and get checked for dengue if they develop fever. People have been asked to ensure there is no stagnant water in areas around their houses. Mosquito fogging is being done in areas where more cases are being recorded. Residents have been asked to change water in tanks at their households at least once a week.Doctors said 170 govt hospitals of the district are struggling to cater to the people with proper check-up and treatment.Some times, people infected with dengue do not experience any symptoms at all. Symptoms may appear within 4-10 days of being bitten by the infected mosquito. In case of dengue, one may experience headache, joint pain, nausea, pain behind eyes, and swollen glands. The number of platelets that help in blood clotting decreases. Dr Mahesh Koni, district health officer said the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya are common at the beginning of the rainy season. “Precautionary measures have been taken to prevent the spread of mosquitoes and the staff of the health department is visiting houses to create awareness to bring the situation under control,” he said.
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