Catherine W Gichuki
Doha
Digestive troubles were yet again the prime reason for a majority of cases brought to the Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) emergency departments across Qatar on the third day of Eid Al Adha.
The Paediatric Emergency Centres (PEC) and the emergency departments (ED) of the Hamad General Hospital (HGH) and the Al Wakrah Hospital attended to a total of 1,747 cases on Sunday and most of them had gastrointestinal problems “due to change of food habits”. However, none of the cases was critical and only a few required admission.
Of the cases HGH attended to 406 were males and 195 were females. Among these only 15 required admissions, 11 of them were medical while 4 required surgery. Al Wakra Hospital ED received a total of 423 cases including 267 males and 156 females. Twelve of these patients were admitted. Six of the cases required surgery while 6 were medical.
The Paediatric Emergency Centres across the country received a total of 524 cases and none of them was admitted. The paediatric cases received included 309 at PEC Al Sadd, PEC Al Rayaan (131), PEC Airport (44), PEC Al Shamal (1) and PEC Al Daayen (39).
Speaking to Qatar Tribune HMC Consultant of Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicologist and Vice Chairman for Corporate Affairs of HMC Department of Emergency Medicine Dr Galal Alessai said that this year’s number was lower compared to other years and this is as a result of proper awareness to the public regarding the use of emergency department services.
“As expected most of these cases were related to gastrointestinal problems due to the change of food habits, and others were as a result of mild injuries which were treated and discharged. Most of them were simple to moderate which were treated and discharged. Only very few were admitted and none of those admitted was critical,” said Dr Alessai.
Acting Chairman of Paediatrics and Director of Paediatric Centres Dr Mohamed Al Amri said among the cases a few children suffered from fever and bronchial asthma. All cases were stable which were treated and sent home. There were no urgent cases.
Talking about why the number of those who visited the PEC was higher on the third day, he said that as COVID-19 cases in Qatar continues to go down, people have become a little bit comfortable to go to the hospital. On Friday, the total number of those who visited was 400 and 434 on Saturday.
He added that of the 309 cases received at PEC Al Sadd, nine of the cases were as a result of COVID-19 and they were transferred to quarantine and a few others were suspected cases which were swabbed and transferred home under isolation waiting for results.
