Two children hospitalised after taking anti-elephantiasis medicine

Two children hospitalised after taking anti-elephantiasis medicine

Published on Thursday, 12 September 2013 20:10

Two children have been hospitalized in Yangon after taking some medicine for preventing lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis.

Two seven-year-old boys, from Dawbon Township and Kyimyintdaing Township, suffered vomiting after taking the medicine and were admitted to Yangon Children's Hospital earlier this week.

"Both children were admitted at the hospital on Monday evening. When I asked their families, they said the children didn't eat any particular types of food. Some children have the habit of vomiting after taking medicines, so this is not very unusual. I can't say exactly why this happened. Now, both of them are feeling better and will be discharged this evening," Dr May Lwin, associate professor and paediatrician at Yangon Children's Hospital, said on Tuesday.

Myanmar has initiated a campaign to eradicate elephantiasis from September 9 to 15 and has been providing a combination of Diethyl Carbarmazine Citrate (DEC) and Albendezole to the local people except for children under the age of two, pregnant women, people suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, hepatitis, kidney disease, asthma, and elephantiasis, and bedridden people.

Children between the ages of two and five were given half a tablet, while those between the ages of six and fourteen were given one tablet. Those above the age of 14 were treated with one-and-a-half tablet.

"In our apartment building, only the security guard came to give the anti-elephantiasis medicine to every door. There weren't any health officers. I heard that the health officers visited every house and gave the medicine in other townships," said a local resident from the 7th Ward in Kamayut Township.

As part of the campaign, anti-elephantiasis medicine has been distributed to residents in Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Mandalay Region, Bago Region, Kayin State, Mon State, Tanintharyi Region, Yangon Region, Ayeyawady Region, and Palatwa Township in Chin State.
The medicine must only be taken after meals. Although there may be some side effects, such as dizziness, fever, and joint pains if there is too much body movement after taking the medicine, they are only temporary. Anyone suffering from continued side effects should contact the health officers, according to reports.

However, authorities have failed to explain the instructions and side effects caused by the medicine. In some townships, only the local ward administrators have been distributing the medicine, without the presence of health officers.

"When they came to distribute the medicine to our house, there weren't any health officers. The elders from our ward came and forced us to take the medicine. They told us that everyone in the house must take the medicine. Only after I asked them whether they would take responsibility if something happened to my daughter, who has a fever, did they suggest taking the medicine later. They didn't say anything about the possible side effects," said a resident of the 11th Ward in South Okkalapa Township.

According to the Ministry of Health, the government initiated the nationwide campaign to eradicate elephantiasis after a small increase in the number of patients suffering from the disease.

A general physician said that medicine distributed as part of the campaign must follow the instructions of the World Health Organisation, as there may be side effects due to unsystematic intake of the medicine that could cause alarm to the public.

Elephantiasis has taken root in several states and regions in Myanmar, except for Shan State, Kayah State, and Chin State. The incidence rate for the disease is currently under one percent in Magway Region, Sagaing Region, and Rakhine State.

According to the World Health Organisation, elephantiasis is a disease that causes painful, disfiguring swelling of the legs and genital organs. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito and develops into adult worms in the lymphatic vessels.

The disease is found in nine Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/09/13/two-children-hospitalised-after-taking-anti-elephantiasis-medicine/