HYDERABAD: The death of at least seven children from diphtheria and 45 more contracting the disease this year has jolted state health department officials out of slumber.
The staggering number of deaths would make one shudder as diphtheria is a vaccine preventable disease, and no deaths were reported in Hyderabad in the past two years. This indicates that it is time to cross-check the reach of immunisation in the state.
Besides, more than 10 children in the age group of five to ten years suffering from diphtheria developed cardiac problems in the month of July. Such was the severity that they were rushed to from Fever Hospital at Nallakunta to Osmania General Hospital at Afzalgunj to be attended by a cardiologist.
Sources said that immunisation is the key as children from remote rural and tribal areas, who do not have easy access to health facilities, were admitted to Fever Hospital (Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Tropical and Communicable Diseases).
They stress the point that as the disease becomes severe in a few days and by the time the children are admitted to Fever Hospital, precious time is lost.
“By the time they reach hospitals such as Fever Hospital, the child would develop serious health complications. Damage to the heart in patients suffering from diphtheria is irreversible. To prevent all this, immunisation is the key. There should be focused on it,” sources said, adding that parents should also ensure their children are immunised till the prescribed age.
“The bacteria (Corynbacterium Diphtheriae) releases toxins which spread in the blood stream and enter the heart and cause heart attacks,” said a government doctor who did not want to be named.
Doctors say that if anyone suffers from fever, throat pain, accompanied by white-coloured membrane on tonsils, they have to immediately seek medical help from an MBBS doctor.
It is learnt that commissioner of health and family welfare Buddhaprakash M Jyoti held a meeting over the issue and gave directions to hold awareness and vaccination camps at primary schools.
Hyderabad district medical and health officer Dr K Padmaja said that vaccines are given on Wednesdays at Primary Health Centres (PHC) and on Saturdays at Anganwadi and Community Centres.
“Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) workers administer DPT vaccine to children aged between five and seven years at primary schools on Thursdays,” she said.