Indore: Panic prevailed among health officials in the state when a nine-year-old boy, suspected of acute encephalitis syndrome, succumbed to disease in Jamner village of Khategaon tehsil in Dewas district on Sunday.
The patient was admitted to city’s Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital in critical condition on Saturday night but the family members got him discharged on “leave against medical advice” on Sunday morning. He died on way to Khategaon.
Meanwhile, the health department officials denied it that it was a case of acute encephalitis syndrome (Chamki fever) and said that the patient was suffering from encephalitis (mastishk jwar), which is different from what is taking place in Bihar.
“Aslam fell ill suddenly on Saturday after which we took him to a local doctor who referred us to Harda. When we reached Harda, the doctors in district hospital refused to admit the patient citing unavailability of machines and equipment,” said Jawed, Aslam’s maternal uncle.
He said they took the patient to a private hospital - Pulse Hospital - in Harda where doctor went through blood test reports and referred the patient to Indore.
“The doctor in Pulse Hospital told us that Aslam shows symptoms of chamki fever. We admitted him to MY Hospital on Saturday night,” Jawed told mediapersons.
Chief Minister expresses concern
Chief Minister Kamal Nath has instructed health department to take precaution and preventive measure. After Chhattisgarh, AES reached Madhya Pradesh.
With a death of nine years boy in Khategaon in Dewas district in Madhya Pradesh, Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). First it was noticed in Muzaffarpur(Bihar) and West Bengal.
Expressing deep concerned over deaths of 170 children in Bihar due to AES, Chief minister Kamal Nath instructed to take all preventive measure in Madhya Pradesh to handle the situation.
CM said that all facilities will be provided. Any symptom if reflected, higher authority should be immediately informed. There is no need of panic all preventives and precautionary measures being taken.
Hospital told to take patient back, says family members
Family members of the deceased boy alleged that the MY Hospital administration told them to take the patient back sayin that the boy’s condition was critical. He alleged that why they would take the patient back in critical condition.
Took him away under LAMA
“Hospital staff provided all possible treatment to patient who was admitted in paediatric ICU,” said MY Hospital superintendent Dr PS Thakur . On Sunday morning, patient’s family members got him discharged under ‘Leave Against Medical Advice’ (LAMA).
Our doctors also told them about patient’s critical condition but they didn’t pay heed. The superintendent said family members gave an excuse that Aslam’s father Ibrahim is critically ill and therefore they have to reach home immediately.”
It is not chamki fever: Docs
Dr PS Thakur said patient was not suffering from chamki fever but from encephalitis. “It was entirely different from what is taking place in Bihar. Cases of encephalitis are common.” Chief medical and health officer Dr Pravin Jadia said blood reports of patient didn’t confirm that he was suffering from chamki fever.
Health minister sends team to Khategaon
Acting swiftly, health minister Tulsi Silawat sent a team of health department officials to Khategaon for surveying the area and to know the exact reason of the disease.
“Though it is not case of ‘chamki’ fever, we have sent a team to survey the area for necessary action. The team will search if any other child is suffering from similar disease,” Tulsi Silawat said.
He said health department will send patient’s samples to Virology Lab in Pune for testing.
“We have alerted all officials across the state to take necessary measures,” he added. Silawat will hold a meeting of officials in Bhopal on Monday to discuss it.
He had symptoms of chamki fever: Harda doc
Dr Pawan Somani of Pulse Hospital in Harda told media that the patient was having symptoms of ‘chamki fever’ like becoming unconscious, having high fever etc.
“His haemoglobin and platelet count was low and his was in critical condition due to which we referred him to Indore. I cannot confirm it was chamki fever as it can be confirmed only after test,” he added.
Case is different from Bihar: Dr Jain
“Aslam was suffering from encephalitis, which is common disease and we see about 200 cases in a year. It was not the one which is taking toll in Bihar. Encephalitis or acute encephalitis syndrome is a broad term and different diseases fall under it.
The patient was ill for at least week but the family members approached doctors very late,’’ said Chacha Nehru Child Hospital superintendent Dr Hemant Jain.
