Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

No firm view on what caused illness among children

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Aug. 23. Uncertainty prevails over what caused the sudden illness in some children at the Thomas Children's Home for the Needy at Devaranapalya on the outskirts of the city last week. Of the 20 children admitted to the Baptist Hospital and Vani Vilas Hospital here, many of them were discharged during the week.

Rebecca (13) died on August 21 due to renal failure. She was admitted to the government hospital at Nelamangala on August 18 after she started vomiting. She was later shifted to Vani Vilas Hospital, where she died. Most of these children hail from Manipur.

There are conflicting reports about the cause of the illness.

Doctors at the Baptist Hospital said the infection could have been caused by the "shigella" bacteria. "The infection could be due to contamination of food, water, or unhygienic conditions," Achamma, paediatrician at the hospital, said.

However, Rajashekhar, a medical doctor and patron of the Thomas Children's Home for the Needy, which is run by the Touch India International Ministry, who examined the children, ruled out bacterial infection and said the illness could be due to a virus.

"The food served in the hostel of the children's home is good. Some people in Devaranapalya have been affected by a viral infection, and the children must have fallen sick due to the same virus," he said. Jyotsna Francis, founder-president of the children's home, said the report on the illness from the government hospital, Nelamangala, was awaited.

"The cause of the illness is yet to be known as the District Health Officer has not given the reports," she said. Food and water samples have been taken from the children's home.

Meanwhile, Rebecca, whose body has been kept at the St. John's Hospital mortuary, might be buried in Bangalore. The arrival of her parents and relatives from Manipur was awaited, Ms. Jyotsna said. "We have received permission from the authorities in Manipur to bury her here," she added. On August 15, five children complained of vomiting and loose motions after consuming food.

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