Preventable viral diseases: Boy, 6, dies of measles

3 admitted to hospital; polio case confirmed in Sargodha.

GUJRANWALA:

A six-year-old boy died of measles on Friday, bringing the district death toll to eight this season. Three of the child’s siblings were also admitted to the hospital with symptoms of the viral infection.

The deceased was identified as Sikandar Ali, son of Tariq Mehmood, a resident of Gulzar Colony. Mehmood said that he had admitted three of his children – Laraib, Fatima and Manahil – to the hospital after Sikandar’s death. He said Sikandar had developed symptoms a week ago. Mehmood took him to a doctor in the neighbourhood but said that his condition continued to worsen.

There were unconfirmed reports that measles had also been diagnosed in children from Naushera Sansi, Ferozewala, Mian Sansi and Girjakh.

Doctors advised people to take children with symptoms of the infection immediately to hospitals. They also warned against home remedies.

According to the World Health Organisation website, measles is highly contagious and an important cause of death among young children. It is transmitted through secrettions from the throat, mouth or n ose of an infected person. Symptoms include high fever, a runny nose, bloodshot eyes and white spots on the inside of the mouth.

A rash develops, from the face down, several days later. Among likely complications are pneumonia, severe diarrhoea and encephalitis.



According to a press release issued on Saturday, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of spread of measles in Layyah district and directed Special Assistant for Health Khawaja Salman Rafique to immediately review the situation and submit a report to him. Four children reportedly died on Friday after contracting the infection. Another 20 are said to be infected.

Polio resurfaces in Sargodha

Polio was diagnosed in a 15-month old girl in Sargodha, making it the first case in the district in six years. She was identified as Tooba, the daughter of an Iqbal Colony resident Khalid Mehmood.

The viral disease was diagnosed when her father brought her to a hospital. Captain (retired) Dr Umar Hayat told The Express Tribune that the child had lost function in both legs and her urinary tract had also been affected.

The child’s father insisted that they had made sure that she receive all vaccinations included in the Extended Programme on Immunisation (EPI), which include inoculation against nine diseases — poliomyelitis, neonatal tetanus, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis-B, hib pneumonia & meningitis and tuberculosis.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2013.