The number of children suffering from fever and common cold is on the rise in Kanchanpur, a Tarai district of Sudurpaschim Province. Around 40 children have been visiting the Mahakali Provincial Hospital in Mahendranagar on a daily basis, according to doctors at the hospital.

“An increasing number of children suffering from fever and common cold have been visiting the hospital for the past few days,” said Gobind Rokaya, a doctor at the emergency unit of the provincial hospital.

According to the hospital administration, around 70 patients visit the Mahakali Provincial Hospital on a daily basis.

“In recent days, around 40 children have been visiting the emergency unit every day and all of them are suffering from high fever, common cold, cough and pneumonia,” said Rokaya.

On Tuesday afternoon, an 11-year-old boy was brought to the emergency unit of the hospital with a body temperature of 104.9 degrees. A resident of Mahendranagar Bazaar, he was also suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting bouts.

“The boy was diagnosed with pneumonia. He is receiving treatment at the hospital,” said Rokaya.

However, not all patients are able to receive prompt treatment as the 11-year-old boy. The provincial hospital’s only paediatrician is away for training so the doctors at the hospital refer all children to hospitals in Dhangadhi and nearby Indian towns.

“We have been referring sick children to other hospitals because we don’t have a specialist at the moment,” said Dr Hari Kumar Shrestha, the medical superintendent at the hospital.

Health officials say most children visiting the Mahakali hospital are found suffering from viral infection, although Covid-19 infection cannot be ruled out.

On Thursday, five children below the age of 15 were found suffering from Covid-19 in Dodhara Chandani Municipality.

“The number of patients suffering from fever and common cold is increasing now. Since both flu and Covid-19 have similar symptoms, we are being extra careful in providing treatment to our patients,” said Jaya Bahadur Mahara, chief at the Health Unit of Dodhara Chandani Municipality.

Two children had tested positive for Covid-19 in Dodhara Chandani two weeks ago, he said.

According to the data of the District Health Office in Kanchanpur, 36 children under the age of 15 have been infected with Covid-19 since August 6.

“Some of the infected children were between five and seven years old,” said Bhatta. Currently, there are seven active Covid-19 cases in children in Kanchanpur, he said.

According to Dr Gagan Chaudhary of the Primary Health Centre in Dodhara Chandani, the health facility receives over 100 patients on a daily basis.

“Among them, 30 to 35 people are patients of viral fever these days and most of them are children,” he said.