A RECENT spike in cases of gastroenteritis among children in Linden is of concern to regional Linden Hospital Complex officials.

Gastroenteritis is said to be an inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically resulting from bacterial toxins or viral infection and causing vomiting and diarrhea.

According to Pediatrician, Shimicka Hector about 16 children as young as 7 weeks were admitted over the past few days, but the situation was worst last week. The hospital is making provisions to accommodate every patient and to give them the necessary drugs and services needed to recuperate.

Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Faroak Ryasat assured residents that there is adequate drug supply to treat the patients. “We have saline, IV fluids, antibiotics, ORS, we have all of these at the same time besides the drugs we have made an accommodation to have enough beds just in case more and more persons come in with diarrhea,” Ryasat posited.

Dr. Hector encouraged residents of Linden to be more careful with their hygiene and eating practices as the hospital has not yet ascertained the reason behind the situation. Dr. Ryasat said that it is suspected to be a bacterial infection that maybe airborne or waterborne but cannot pronounce on it as yet.

According to reports most of the patients are living on the Wismar shore, especially the Blue Berry Hill area.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the hospital Board, Mortimor Mingo said that the managerial staff is putting everything in place to properly treat the patients. “I hope that it is something very brief and we would like to know the cause of it basically so we will have to do some test to find out the exact source.”

Regional Chairman, Renis Morian on a visit to the pediatric and emergency ward on Monday expressed concern about the situation and gave some comforting words especially to the parents of children being treated.