Cape Town - Twelve children under five have died and thousands have been treated and hospitalised as gastroenteritis hits the Western Cape.
The City of Cape Town has recorded nine deaths and treated in excess of 14 500 children for diarrhoea since summer started, while the provincial Department of Health has verified three deaths.
At least 25 569 children were treated for diarrhoea across the province and 3 221 had been hospitalised to date.
Diarrhoea is a leading cause of child death in the Western Cape, especially in summer.
Sithembiso Magubane, the spokesman for the department, said three deaths had been recorded in the Winelands and two in the Metro since the beginning of the diarrhoeal season.
Summer is often referred to as diarrhoea season in the medical fraternity due to bouts of diarrhoea, which can be fatal.
And according to the city’s mayco member for health, Siyabulela Mamkeli, the numbers have yet to reach their peak.
“We are heading into the peak season now. City health has, however, noticed a slight drop in the number of cases presenting at primary healthcare facilities in the past few weeks.”
Mamkeli said as part of minimising the impact of diarrhoea in recent years, the city had started fast-tracking diarrhoea cases when children were brought to their facilities.
“Our environmental health and clinic staff also conduct ongoing education and awareness around signs and symptoms, but also prevention of diarrhoea. This includes community outreaches and visits to educare facilities and schools. We also place heavy emphasis on the importance of immunisation and Vitamin A supplementation, as well as exclusive breast-feeding to strengthen a child’s immune system,” he said.
Areas that had recorded high numbers of diarrhoea include Khayelitsha, Tygerberg, Atlantis, Salt River and Maitland as well as the Klipfontein district.
Magubane said they had established oral rehydration treatment rooms where parents and affected children were given priority treatment.
He said areas most affected were those with poor infrastructure and lack of access to clean water.
Symptoms of diarrhoea and dehydration include vomiting, watery stools, sunken eyes, blank stares, fits, dry and sometimes bloody nappies, fast breathing and sleeplessness.
Cape Argus