Why have people fallen sick after Chloroquine administration in Andhra Pradesh | Explained
Fatal incident in Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram district raises questions about the safe administration of Chloroquine, a commonly used malaria treatment, as a seven-year-old girl dies and dozens fall ill
On Tuesday morning, a routine medical camp in Gollaguppa village, Yetapaka mandal of Polavaram district, saw a tragic turn of events. By afternoon, a seven-year-old girl, Madivi Jamuna, had died and 52 others, mostly children, fell ill. District Collector K. Dinesh Kumar stated that 23 children were transferred to Bhadrachalam Area Hospital for further treatment.
The root cause was traced back to the administration of Chloroquine tablets. This drug, commonly used to treat and prevent malaria, can be lethal if not administered correctly. Dr. P.V. Sudhakar, former principal of Andhra Medical College, warned that Chloroquine has a narrow therapeutic index, meaning the difference between a safe dosage and a lethal one is minimal.
Improper dosing, especially in young children, can cause severe symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, dizziness, skin rashes, and in extreme cases, seizures, vision impairment, and cardiac arrest. The authorities are urged to investigate the batch of Chloroquine tablets, checking the batch numbers, expiry dates, and storage conditions, as improper storage can lead to drug degradation or contamination.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
