Zakir Azad, Cumilla

In Cumilla , the number of cold patients is increasing in the hospitals due to severe winter. Especially in the last few days, due to heavy fog and bone-chilling winter, the number of children and elderly patients in the hospital has increased. In addition to the hospital, additional patients were also seen in the chambers of specialist doctors.

The concerned doctors say that the number of cold patients has increased by two to three times compared to the normal period in the last few days due to the increase in the severity of winter at the beginning of the month. During this period of severe winter, children and adults with seasonal fever are experiencing pneumonia, sinusitis, tonsillitis, asthma, allergic problems.Many are suffering from various diseases including common cold-cough, cold-fever, shortness of breath. In such situations, doctors have advised to keep children and elderly people away from dusty and cold environment to keep them healthy.

In the last two days, many health complexes and doctors' chambers, including Cumilla Medical College Hospital, Sadar Hospital, were seen to be crowded with patients. Patients are coming from various areas of Cumilla as well as from outside districts and upazilas with many ailments.

On Wednesday at noon, we talked to a woman named Sofura Begum who was standing with a child in front of the Medical College Hospital. He came to the hospital with his three-year-old child Jibon. Sofura said, Jibon has been suffering from cold and cough for the past few days. I have been given various medicines including antibiotics from the village drug store but the cold is not getting better. So I brought him from Barura to Cumilla Medical College Hospital to see the big doctor.

Abdul Gafur came to Sadar Hospital with his three-year-old grandson named Atik from Rajapur of Burichang Upazila. He said, "After the illness, I first saw a private doctor in Burichang. Medicines have been administered through many trials. He was fine for a few days and is currently hospitalized with pneumonia.

Her mother Lipi Akter came to the city's private Moon Hospital with 19-month-old Hafzs Jannat from Laksam. He said that for the last seven-eight days he had cough. I have seen a doctor in the village and given medicine, but it is not getting any better. That's why I'm bringing it to the city hospital. Many children have different symptoms like diarrhea with cold.

Her mother Pakhi Akter brought 3-year-old Jumki from Brahmanpara to Brahmanpara upazila health complex. He said, "Jumki has fever for the last four days. Besides, diarrhea has started since Sunday. I was taking medicine at home after seeing the doctor. Fever decreases, increases again. Diarrhea started yesterday. That's why come here.'

Brahmanpara upazila health and family planning officer Dr. Abu Hasnat Md. Mohiuddin Mubin said that due to cold and air pollution, the number of patients has increased two to three times than before. Many of them are coming with cold, stuffy nose, sneezing and coughing. He said that one part has symptoms of severe fever, sore throat and cough.

When asked to know, Cumilla Civil Surgeon Doctor Nasima Akhtar said that due to severe winter, more patients are coming to the hospital with respiratory tract infection rota virus.This is due to many reasons. Especially the elderly and children are coming more, who have low immunity. He advises to stay indoors as much as possible and keep the body warm at all times during this extreme winter.

Comilla Meteorological Office Officer Md. Ismail Bhuiyan Jiban said, this hostile weather will prevail in Comilla for another day or two. The minimum temperature in Comilla on Tuesday was 12.4 degrees Celsius. A chilly feeling prevails throughout the day as the day temperature is much lower than normal. The daytime temperature does not increase significantly due to the delay in reaching the sun's heat due to dense fog.

He said that the daytime maximum temperature may remain below normal for another 2/3 days and there is a possibility of temporary drizzle/light rain around January 20/21