Bathrooms takeover

The condition is most prevalent during the rainy season, when there is an increase in the number of flies, especially when certain fruits are in season. Gastro-enteritis is the inflammation of the lining of the gastro-intestinal tract, particularly the stomach and intestines.

It is caused by an infection, usually a virus, and can be more severe when caused by bacteria.

Bacterial causes are less common but tend to be more severe. They include campylobacter, shigella and E coli infections. The infections are transmitted through contact with other infected persons, poor hygiene and contaminated food and drink.

Gastro-enteritis is a public health problem which can develop into an epidemic if proper disposal of garbage and other hygienic precautions are not taken. In TT, the fastest way to contract gastro-enteritis is by buying contaminated food from food outlets which do not practise proper hygiene. The virus is spread through the faecal oral route of hand-to-hand contamination when workers in the food industry do not wash their hands. The storage of food in refrigerators is also important as bacteria can affect poorly stored food.

The hardest hit areas in Trinidad within the last three weeks have been the western and eastern side of the country.

Pharmacists and doctors have noticed an increase in the number of patients, children and adults, who have complained about vomiting and diarrhoea — the two major symptoms of gastro-enteritis. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, fever, stomach ache, lethargy and drowsiness.

A number of pharmacists in East and West Trinidad have reported that in the last three to four weeks, customers have been purchasing rehydration salts which are used to replenish body fluids lost due to the dehydration of the body from frequent vomiting and diarrhoea.

Pharmacists are advising patients to drink a lot of coconut water and oral rehydration salts.

Children are especially prone to falling deathly ill with the virus as the dehydration of the body causes them to lose a lot of sodium and potassium and other body fluids.

Within 24 hours, a baby can die from dehydration caused by gastro-enteritis and must be treated with G-salt/oral rehydration fluid. Adults are better able to withstand the virus, but it is recommended that they visit a doctor if the vomiting and diarrhoea persists for more than two days.

Medication is seldom recommended by a doctor unless it is a bacterial infection. In the case of diarrhoea, a doctor might advise the use of lomotil to ease the stomach.