Cases of acute diarrheal diseases decreasing in Moldova

Chisinau, 30 July /MOLDPRES/ – Nearly 290 persons from Chisinau, including 177 children, arrived last week in acute infectious diseases with acute diarrheal diseases. The announcement was made by interim head of the Social Assistance and Healthcare Department, Carolina Olaru, in the weekly meeting of Chisinau City Hall services today.

According to cited source, the number of cases of acute diarrheal diseases is slightly lower than in previous week, when there were recorded over 300 cases. "Totally, there have been hospitalised 166 persons. Among children attending kindergartens, there were 41 sporadic cases of acute diarrheal diseases," said Olaru.

Interviewed by agency, head of the acute diarrheal diseases section of the National Public Healthcare Agency, Ion Birca, said that during the summer, acute diarrheal diseases are caused by bacteria and viruses found in water, food and environment.

"The acute diarrheal diseases are recorded more frequently between May and October, and elevated air temperatures cause multiplication and intense spread of microbes. A number of factors contribute to the spread of these diseases. It stands for hand hygiene, it is necessary to wash hands with soap, including before preparing dishes. An important factor is purchasing food from authorised places, not from the street or other unauthorised places. A decisive factor is for food not to have an expired term. Likewise, food should be heat – cooked for a long time and kept cool. A risk is also the consumption of drinking water from unsafe places, such as fountains or springs. Bathing in aquatic basins that do not meet sanitary and hygienic requirements is a danger," said Ion Birca.

The quoted source pointed out that although the number of cases of acute diarrheal diseases has decreased in the first six months of 2018 compared to similar period of 2017, however, there is an increase in number of illnesses caused by dysentery. Also, there have been reported outbreaks of food poisoning.

The clinical signs of diarrhea are: high fever of up to 40°C, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, general weakness, and headache. At children, especially at babies up to one year, the clinical signs develop more rapidly than at adults, and health condition may worsen in a short time.

In case of clinical signs of acute diarrheal disease, it is not allowed self-medication, especially when these symptoms develop at children. The basic recommendation is the urgent consultation of family doctor, which will prescribe appropriate treatment upon clinical and lab investigations.

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor L. Alcaza)