Hyderabad: Two infants die, 32 admitted because of wrong medicine
What's the story
Two newborns lost their lives and 32 are admitted in Hyderabad's Niloufer Hospital in critical condition since yesterday. The families have alleged that it is because of the carelessness of the Urban Primary Health Center's staff in Nampally. Allegedly the staff mixed up the after-vaccination medicine. Due to similar packaging, the staff gave Tramadol instead of Paracetamol to the babies on Wednesday.
Details
Staff gave Tramadol instead of Paracetamol as post-vaccination drug
Around 92 infants were vaccinated on Wednesday in Nampally's Urban Primary Health Center. However, as part of after-vaccination medicine, parents were given Tramadol instead of Paracetamol to administer to the babies later. According to a family, their baby was unconscious immediately after they gave him the medicine. Initially, parents of around 26 babies rushed to the hospital after their infants started developing complications.
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Condition of the infants is stabilizing, says superintendent of hospital
Out of the two dead babies, Md Faizan and Md Omar, former was declared dead as soon as he arrived at the hospital, while the latter died in another private hospital later. 32 are said to be in complicated condition. The superintendent of Niloufer Hospital, Dr. Murali Krishna said, "The condition of the infants is stabilizing. All of them have been put in ICU."
Reason
'Paracetamol protects from fever, Tramadol an opioid pain medication'
"We have to monitor them strictly for the next 48 to 72 hours until the drug's effect comes down," said Dr. Krishna. Explaining why the fiasco happened, Dr. Krishna, said, "As per protocol, children are to be given one-fourth of a paracetamol tablet to prevent fever after they are administered the pentavalent vaccine. Tramadol is an opioid pain medication (similar to narcotic analgesics)."
Information
'The vaccines couldn't have caused the death of the child'
Another doctor, who requested to remain anonymous, said "The vaccines couldn't have caused the death of the child." Meanwhile, Faizan's father, Md Asif, has registered a complaint against the staff. Locals staged a protest and have demanded justice for the major faux pas.