Three-year-old daughter of Ramkali Jaisi, a resident of Mangalsen Municipality-7, was taken to the district hospital last week after she fell seriously ill. The mother initially thought that the minor had got the common cold. She took care of her but she did not take her to the health institution thinking that it was seasonal flu. But the minor’s health worsened further.

“We were busy in the fields. I did not give much attention to her health because I thought she had caught the flu. But her health did not improve at home so we took her to the hospital. She had to be admitted to the hospital for five days,” said Ramkali. According to her, many children in the settlement are falling sick like her daughter.

Khanti Rawal of Mangalsen-12 went to the local health post after her four-year-old son suffered from the common cold and fever. She was worried as her son’s health did not improve despite taking medicines provided by the health post for four days.

“I finally took my ailing son to the district hospital. They ran a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test as the doctors suspected Covid-19. But the test report was negative. The doctors say it is viral fever. But my son hasn’t recovered,” said Khanti.

Many children in the district have been taken ill in recent weeks. The health institutions in Achham, a hill district of Sudurpaschim Province, are crowded with patients, mainly children suffering from fever.

According to Dr Sonali Baskota, medical superintendent at the district hospital in Achham, more than 100 children visited the hospital during the monsoon season last year.

“Around this time of the year, cases of viral fever and common cold increase. And the number has increased this year. More than 50 children have been visiting the hospital on a daily basis. Most parents are engaged in the fields and do not take their child’s illness seriously,” said Baskota. “They bring the children to the hospital only when they become severely ill.”

The district hospital, according to Baskota, is carrying out PCR tests on patients with high fever. “Around 50 children are brought to the hospital on a daily basis. We are conducting their PCR tests regularly,” she said. According to her, most fever patients are suffering from viral fever.

“It takes up to one week for a viral fever patient to be cured,” said Baskota. She urged people to drink water only after boiling and be careful about sanitation.