With garbage choking every other street, inviting stray dogs and rodents, fear of disease is stalking the city. Children could be among the worst hit if the rubbish is not cleared soon, warn doctors. Dr R Premlatha, professor of paediatrics at Vani Vilas Hospital says there has been a rise in the number of children arriving at the hospital with dengue- like symptoms and viral infection. " Almost all the beds in the paediatric wards are filled as we are getting 15 to 20 children every day for admission. With the garbage piling up on the roads , not only is there more pollution but the drains too are choked with rubbish, allowing mosquitoes and other flies to breed. More than adults the situation is bound to have a bigger impact on children whose immunity levels are lower,” she says.
The Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) is also seeing a rise in the number of children coming to it with viral infections and dengue -like symptoms. Dr Kiran Kinger, paediatric physician at Fortis Hospital says children are very sensitive and so more vulnerable to the situation. "Over the past few days there has been a rise in the number of cases of dengue , dust allergies and skin rashes at our hospital and this can be directly attributed to the huge collection of garbage in the city," he adds. There is also a rise in the number of typhoid and malaria cases among children,according to him.
Dr Dwijendra Prasad, Consultant, Internal Medicine, BGS Global Hospital, reports an increase in the number of stomach infections too. "We are seeing an increase in the number of dog bite cases as well as a result of the increasing number of stray dogs feeding on garbage in the city. . If the garbage is not removed we might even see a rise in leptospirosis because of the increase in rodents," he warns.