Umme H., 1

Umme Habiba is a 12-month-old girl who developed fever, weakness, and reduced activity for five days, followed by frequent watery diarrhea, poor feeding, worsening weakness, and reduced urine output, and was diagnosed with enteric fever with acute watery diarrhea (AWD). Her father is a day labourer and the sole earner, with an average monthly income of only BDT 4,500 (around USD 37), while her mother is a housewife and four children depend on the family’s limited resources. Due to seasonal difficulty finding work, the family often has to borrow money to meet basic needs, leaving them unable to afford Habiba’s medical treatment. Her father learned about Helpster Charity through a volunteer and sought assistance for her treatment. Without timely treatment, enteric fever with AWD may cause severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, worsening infection, kidney complications, and potentially life-threatening deterioration.

According to the treating doctors, hospitalization, appropriate hydration, close monitoring, and parenteral antibiotics are recommended to control the enteric infection and correct severe dehydration. With timely treatment, her fluid and electrolyte balance should improve, fever and diarrhea are expected to resolve, and her feeding and activity can gradually return to normal. If left untreated, ongoing diarrhea and infection may cause severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, shock, kidney injury, and potentially life-threatening complications. Timely treatment is therefore essential for her recovery and survival.