Jaundice outbreak in Patiala village, 9 schoolchildren fall ill

Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Ghanaur, August 23

A jaundice outbreak at Ulana village of Ghanaur block in Patiala district has left nine schoolchildren ill, including three critical, over the last one week. 

Fearing a further spread of the disease, the district health authorities have swung into action and started conducting medical check-up of the villagers.

The matter came to light when the ASHA workers at the village reported to Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Harpalpur about some kids having yellow skin.

Consequently, the health department conducted a medical camp at the village and it was found that nine school children, aged between 8-19 years, had symptoms of jaundice.

The health authorities said nine patients of jaundice had been reported from the village.

Out of the nine affected children, three were girls while six were boys.

The health authorities examined the patients in the village itself and also held an awareness lecture on the prevention and cure of jaundice on Thursday.

A patient said he had the symptoms of the disease around a fortnight ago, but it was just recently that he got to know that it was jaundice.

In the meanwhile, the health authorities collected five water samples from different locations which have been sent to a water-testing lab.

Ravinder Rishi, SMO, Harpalpur, said, “The ASHA workers informed us about the symptoms of jaundice among the villagers. We immediately held a camp at the village and gave treatment to the villagers.”

Rishi further informed that the health department had also taken blood samples of the affected school children and sent to Mata Kaushalya Hospital to test the type of jaundice.

“If it is Hepatitis A or E, it would be a clear indication that it was due to the contaminated water but if it is Hepatitis C then it would be a serious concern.”