Contagious infection: Diphtheria-related death recorded

FAISALABAD:

A six-year-old boy believed to be suffering from diphtheria died at Allied Hospital on Thursday bringing the number of diphtheria-related deaths at the facility to two.

Jhang resident Shoaib Farooq, the deceased, was taken to Allied Hospital five days ago after complaining about severe respiratory problems and a sore throat. Doctors at the hospital had diagnosed the deceased with diphtheria following an initial check-up.

Allied Hospital Focal Person Masooma Sardar told The Express Tribune that Farooq had been brought to the hospital after complaining of severe throat pain. Sardar said he had been admitted after doctors suspected him of suffering from diphtheria. She said they had tried their best to save his life. Sardar said the hospital had earlier sent the deceased’s samples to Islamabad’s National Institute of Health to ascertain what exactly he was suffering from. She said the facility was yet to receive his reports.

Seven-year-old Fida, a resident of Jameel Town and six-year-old Aisha, a resident of Razaabad, have also been undergoing treatment for the disease the hospital. Four-year-old Zahid, had died at the facility on January 3.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd,  2016.