LAHORE: Hospitals across Lahore are reporting a sharp rise in gastroenteritis cases, raising concerns about a possible waterborne disease outbreak following heavy monsoon rains.
Several government hospitals have reported unusually long queues. Doctors say some patients are arriving with severe dehydration, low blood pressure, kidney failure and other complications.
The situation appears particularly serious at Mayo Hospital, one of the province’s largest teaching hospitals. Doctors there said they are treating an unusually high number of patients with stomach infections and related complications.
Dr. Salman Kazmi, a senior medical consultant at Mayo Hospital, said many patients were arriving with serious complications. He added that the situation requires further investigation by public health experts.
“We are receiving a large number of patients with gastroenteritis, many of them with kidney failure and stroke,” Kazmi said.
Kazmi, who is also secretary general of the Young Doctors Association Pakistan, said the situation could indicate a possible cholera outbreak. However, he stressed that health authorities must investigate the cause.
Cholera is a bacterial infection that can spread through contaminated food or water. It can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration, especially when people lack access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation.
Kazmi said Mayo Hospital’s emergency department had also seen an increase in patients with low blood pressure, stroke and other complications linked to severe diarrhea.
However, the situation is not the same at every government hospital in Lahore. Lahore General Hospital, Jinnah Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital have also reported an increase in patients with stomach related illnesses.
Services Hospital Lahore, however, has reported a different situation, as Principal Prof. Zohra said patient numbers at the teaching hospital remained normal. She also rejected reports of a diarrhea or gastroenteritis outbreak at the hospital.
The conflicting reports have raised questions about the scale of the reported increase in gastrointestinal illnesses across the city. Health experts say further investigation is needed to determine whether Lahore is facing a wider outbreak or a seasonal rise in water and foodborne illnesses.
Heavy monsoon rains can increase the risk of contaminated water and poor sanitation. These conditions can contribute to the spread of gastrointestinal infections. Doctors have urged health authorities to closely monitor the situation and take preventive measures if the number of cases continues to rise.
