Shigellosis strikes Kozhikode; toddler dies

Chennai : A toddler died of Shigellosis in Kerala & # 39; Kozhikode District Monday morning. The toddler was being treated at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. The victim's twin brother is treated in the same hospital.

Official sources stated that Thamarbadery's child had been transported to a private hospital following diarrhea on July 18. Although the doctors advised his parents to direct the toddler to the university hospital, he was delayed in Kozhikode. By the time he was moved in the early hours of July 20, his condition deteriorated causing his death.

Dr. Reena KJ, additional director of health services told Mirror that Shigella bacterial infection is commonly reported in Kerala and elsewhere. There is no need to panic. In the case of the toddler, the doctors could have saved him had he reached the Kozhikode University Hospital on time. He died of dehydration. There was a similar death of an infant in Palakkad district last year, she said.

People should adopt simple precautionary measures to prevent Shigella infection. It is crucial to boil the water before consuming it. People should avoid taking raw food. If there is a well in the house, the resident must ensure that the well's water is chlorinated every week. It is necessary to wash your hands with soap before and after the food. People should avoid cluttering their fridge with vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, instead, they should be kept separately. In addition, they should avoid taking stale food, she said.

Shigella infection (shigellosis) is an intestinal disease caused by a family of bacteria called shigella. The main sign of Shigella infection is diarrhea. It is commonly reported during the monsoon due to the contamination of the water.

It should be remembered that Kozhikode District witnessed the onset of infection with the Nipah virus (NiV) during the months of May and June of this year. The outbreak of NiV has caused at least 16 deaths.