A cross-section of doctors working both at private clinics and the government hospitals told Express Newsline that cases of gastro-enterological infections such as indigestion, diarrhoea, vomiting, hepatitis-B (jaundice) and, in the later stages, typhoid or dehydration, have become common in the city. These ailments are spread essentially through contaminated adulterated water and its use in other foodstuff, they say.

Infectious Diseases Hospital's resident medical officer B P Patel -- who said there were at least 57 patients suffering from Hepatitis-B at his hospital -- believes that gastro problems are a round-the-year phenomenon. Last month, the number of patients was a little lower than 100; in the summer, the number was around 200.

At SSG Hospital, senior doctors say they currently treat about 10 patients a day. The number of cases goes down in winter, they say, adding that there are often reports of water getting contaminated in the hospital itself because of a lack of hygiene.

IMA secretary Kamal Jain says that these diseases were probably the most common in Vadodara. He attributed two factors to their spread: Contaminated water supply, especially in the slums, and lack of personal hygiene. What was necessary to counter this, he said, was preventive measures.