Media Release
Dubai, Feb 5: 11-year-old Salman complained of severe abdominal pain for over two weeks that had further increased over the last three days. The child also experienced continuous fever, vomiting and fatigue during this time. Over five months, anxious by the child’s unbearable painful condition the parents took him to multiple doctors and hospitals without much respite and finally brought in the child to Zulekha Hospital in the city to consult with Dr Salah Elghote, Specialist Paediatric Surgeon and Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon. Without delay, the child was admitted to the PICU for treatment in a very critical state with high fever and an abnormally rapid heart rate.
While the child was referred by the earlier hospitals advising surgery as a treatment, Dr Elghote insisted to carry out certain primary investigations and successfully treated the child without surgery. The investigations carried out revealed salmonella, an infection that is a common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract. The ultrasound of the abdomen showed that the small intestine had thickened and the x-ray of the abdomen and upper gastrointestinal areas cleared that there were no intestinal obstructions or intestinal ruptures.
The expert team continuously monitored the child’s condition and began treating him with IV fluids.
Due to the high count of white blood cells and high CRP (c-reactive protein) the medical team decided to treat the child with higher broad-spectrum antibiotics to control infection first and then take any further decisions if needed. He responded well to the IV antibiotics.
After three weeks of medication, the child’s condition improved, there was a reduction in abdominal pain and vomiting subsided. Salman was given total parenteral nutrition (TPN ) to maintain nutrition and to give adequate rest for the gut to recover from infection and inflammation. Once the child regained strength and became stable, he was given a liquid diet and then gradually soft solid diet.
Thanking the hospital treating team, Salman’s father expressed his gratitude to the doctor and the team saying, “We were glad to see the child recover and get good sleep after months of pain and crying overnight.”
Dr Elghote said, “This is an acquired infection from food eaten. It is highly recommended that children avoid fast foods and watch consumption of spicy and oily foods. These infections are very rare and can lead to chronic diseases and complications if not treated wisely. We are happy we could diagnose his condition right in time and offer the right support to Salman in regaining normalcy.”
Salman has now fully recovered and is back to his normal routine. He has been advised to refrain from spicy food and maintain a high fibre diet.
About Zulekha Healthcare Group www.zulekhahospitals.com.
Zulekha Healthcare Group is a super brand and is among the forerunners in UAE healthcare. Today, the Zulekha Healthcare Group includes two multidisciplinary hospitals in Dubai and Sharjah, as well as four UAE medical centres and three pharmacies providing specialized treatments in over 30 disciplines. The group also has a multidisciplinary hospital in India - Alexis. Zulekha Hospital has received extensive recognition for its commitment to quality care and sustainable business practices, and recently received the prestigious Dubai Quality Award for the second time in four years, underlining a commitment to providing high-quality healthcare to patients and society.
Media contact:
Sameena Khanam - Senior Manager PR and Communications
Zulekha Hospitals: +971 6 5069254 (skhanam@zulekhahospitals.com)