Gaya, Nov. 28: One more child, admitted to Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital (ANMCH) with suspected Japanese encephalitis, died this morning at the health hub, taking the toll to 86 in the district.
Ajoy Kishore Ravi, head of paediatric department, said: “Two children — Raju Kumar, 8, from Dhabahiya village in Chatra district of Jharkhand and Rajan Kumar from Risiyap village in Aurangabad were admitted at ANMCH yesterday. Raju died around 6.30am today. With his death, the toll at ANMCH has gone up to 86.”
The last death from suspected Japanese encephalitis at ANMCH was on November 16. Soni, 10, a resident of Hunterganj in Chatra was the victim. Ravi added: “Raju’s brother had also died some days back. He was not brought to ANMCH but was treated at a private clinic.
The two brothers had similar symptoms of high fever and convulsion.”
Sources said 397 children suffering from suspected Japanese encephalitis or acute encephalitis syndrome have been admitted at the hospital since August 23.
Of these, 69 have been detected with Japanese encephalitis. Other children are being treated for acute encephalitis syndrome, which comprises 19 different diseases.
Quoting World Health Organisation guidelines, Ravi said acute encephalitis syndrome, including Japanese encephalitis, is a group of similar neurologic manifestation caused by different viruses, bacteria, fungus, parasites, spirochetes, chemicals and toxins.
Common diseases like meningitis, hygienic meningitis, tuberculosis meningitis, cerebral malaria, dengue, syphilis and herpes are treated as acute encephalitis syndrome.
Meanwhile, the frequency of new admissions at ANMCH has now started to come down.
The last children to be admitted at the hospital before yesterday was on November 24. On that day, three children — Poonam Kumari, 6, from Itma village in Aurangabad, Savitri Kumari, 3, from Tesua Tar Jogi Bigha under Atri block in Gaya and Akhilesh Kumar, 5, from Kokhna village under Dumaria block in Gaya — were admitted to the hospital.
There were no admissions on November 25 and 26.
At present, 11 children are being treated at the hospital. So far, around 265 patients have been released from the health hub after they recovered.
