A fruit vendor walks in Kariakoo on October 29. In addition to cholera, cases of diarrheal disease is being reported in Dar. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be washed with clean water and raw foods should be treated with extra caution. Photo: Daniel Hayduk
In recent weeks, there have been serious cases of diarrheal disease affecting children in Dar, some of which have required urgent medical attention.
While diarrhea can affect anyone, several of the cases involving children under age five have been of a more serious nature and have had unusual complications, says the IST Clinic’s Belia Klaassen.
Klaassen says the diarrheal disease cases are not linked to the current cholera outbreak, which has killed at least 68 people across Tanzania.
Klaassen says parents should be vigilant and seek medical attention immediately if their child has bloody diarrhea.
“Extra caution is recommended in order to prevent diarrheal diseases: washing all fruits and vegetables with clean water (boiled or from sealed bottles/containers), avoid raw salads and raw food in restaurants, extra caution at buffets especially with meat and fish. Extra caution in preventing is recommended by washing hands, avoiding ingesting tap water during brushing teeth and showering. In addition be cautious with swimming in pools of uncertain water quality,” says Klaassen.
According to the World Health Organization, diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old.
While mostly preventable and treatable it kills 760 000 children under five annually.
