In a worrying sign of the rising burden of cold-related diseases, 109 children were admitted to the 24-bed paediatric ward at Jashore General Hospital as of last night. The majority are battling illnesses such as fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, and diarrhoea, hospital sources said. The number of young patients is increasing daily, stretching the hospital's capacity.

On Monday, 98 children were admitted to the ward, while on Tuesday, 95 new cases were added. The outpatient department (OPD) is similarly overwhelmed, with 700 children seeking treatment on Monday, and 600 on Tuesday. As the hospital struggles with the surge of patients, it is also grappling with a severe shortage of medicines for cold-related illnesses.

According to hospital staff, essential paediatric medications, such as Ambroxol and Fexicold, are unavailable, forcing parents to purchase them from outside pharmacies. Hospital records show that 1,859 patients sought treatment at the OPD on Tuesday, including 629 men, 630 women, and 600 children. Of these, 230 children visited the paediatric department, while many others received prescriptions for common cold symptoms, coughs, and flu-like illnesses.

"Due to the sudden seasonal change, children are particularly vulnerable to cold-related diseases," said Ahmed Ferdous Jahangir Suman, associate professor of paediatrics at Jashore Medical College. "The abrupt shift from warm to cold weather has led to a spike in respiratory issues, flu, and other ailments a.