Simple hygiene can prevent diarrhoea

BHUBANESWAR: Experts have called for inculcation of proper sanitary and personal hygiene habits among children right from their early age to tackle the menace of enteric diseases. Simple habits and practices like regular washing of hands and taking daily baths can minimise the risk of infections among children.Frequent illnesses among schoolchildren due to enteric diseases not only affect academic performance, but can have serious and far-reaching implications like stunted physical growth and impaired cognitive development. More than 1.8 million children under the age of five years in the country are affected by the diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia due to poor sanitary habits in daily life, according to general physician with Apollo Hospitals, Bhubaneswar, Dr Amitav Mohanty.A recent report by Lancet Medical journal has also indicated that more than 200 million children in developing countries are failing to reach their physical and cognitive development potential. “Giardia is one of the chief causes of diarrhoea affecting mainly children, which could be prevented to a great extent by encouraging personal hygiene habits like daily bathing and regularly washing of hands,” Dr Mohanty said.Diarrhoea is the most common infection among children, especially in developing countries like India. It is the leading cause of malnutrition among children aged between one year and five years. The most common symptoms associated with diarrhoea are severe dehydration and fluid loss and, if not corrected properly, leads to impaired cognitive development,” he explained.