The City of Cape Town’s Health Department has noted a decline in the number of diarrhoea cases, year-on-year, in children under the age of five.
While there is an anticipated annual upsurge in diarrhoeal disease cases during the warmer months, when young children especially are susceptible to serious illness, there has been a steady, and marked, decline over the past five years.
The latest data, which is a year-on-year comparison of the first three months of the “surge season”, shows an even greater decline.
| November 2021-January 2022 | November 2022-January 2023 | |
| Children <5 with diarrhoea without dehydration | 6 263 | 2 612 |
| Children <5 with diarrhoea with dehydration | 133 | 70 |
This despite a continuous drop in the hand-hygiene habits cultivated during the Covid-19 pandemic, also noted by City Health, as well as the home management of children with signs and symptoms.
“The health sector has worked hard over the past decade to increase education and awareness of the signs and symptoms of diarrhoea and dehydration in young children as well as their management,” said Councillor Patricia van der Ross, Mayco Member for Community Services and Health. “I think it is safe to say that the decline in caseload bears testimony to those efforts. And, while the Covid-19 pandemic was one of the biggest global health crises in our time, the hand hygiene and sanitising that became part and parcel of our pandemic management plan has also had other positive impacts. I want to commend our health-care workers for their efforts in getting us to where we are today, as well as caregivers and the public at large. However, vigilance is key and we must persevere, not only in the interest of our children’s health, but society’s at large.”
Apart from regular and thorough hand-washing, parents and caregivers are advised to wash bottles, bowls, spoons and teats before feeding young children.
Unclean hands can spread viruses that cause diarrhoea. During hot summer days, food is easily spoilt. If eaten, this can also cause diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration.
It is important to prepare and store food safely and to wash hands with soap and water after going to the toilet, changing the child’s nappies, before preparing feeds and working with food.
“Hand hygiene and food safety management practices are critical to reducing the risk of gastrointestinal complaints in general, and not just children. The recent cholera outbreak in Gauteng is yet another reminder of how quickly diseases can take hold. I encourage the public to take these matters seriously, and to be hygiene-conscious at all times,” added Van der Ross.
There has been no cholera outbreak in the Western Cape; however, as a precaution, City Health advises the public to take note of the signs and symptoms, and treatment options.
Symptoms and signs of cholera:
• Passing loose watery stool (watery diarrhoea)
• Intense thirst with little urine passed
• Muscle cramps and weakness
• Restlessness/irritability
• Vomiting
Mild cases are treated with an oral rehydration solution of six level teaspoons of sugar and a half-level teaspoon of salt dissolved in a litre of previously boiled water.
Where symptoms are severe, and when children refuse to eat or drink, vomit up all feeds and/or become listless, medical attention must be sought immediately.
For more information, please consult the National Institute for Communicable Diseases’ Frequently Asked Questions page: https://bit.ly/3mmfan4.
