Seven dead in Malappuram after traditional treatment for jaundice

MALAPPURAM: Malappuram district which is reeling under the burden of a fever outbreak, is struggling to grapple with unscientific and unauthorised traditional medications that have turned a headache for health authorities. Officials say that such treatments have claimed seven lives so far this year in the district. All of them were infected with jaundice. “It is alarming and saddening that people resort to unscientific medications for jaundice which can be cured with lesser medication if treated properly. The case sheets of the patients who succumbed to the disease have pointed out that some of them have consumed ash to cure it,” District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr K. Sakeena said.

Jaundice treatment using country medicine (Pach-amarunnu and Bhasmam) is prevalent in several parts of the district. The health department has taken this issue seriously and stern actions would follow to curb it, she said. It was found that two of the diseased hadn’t taken any proper medicine or treatment while others took recourse to country medicines while undergoing treatment using modern medicine. According to the health authorities, the most recent case in Tirur was an avoidable death. A 21-year-old youth, who was admitted to District Hospital, Tirur in serious condition had later succumbed to jaundice four days after he was discharged from the hospital due to pressure from family members.

“He was discharged on strict note by the doctor. He was directed to continue the medication and proper rest. However, he was given country medicines to cure it fast by family members,” the DMO said. A pregnant woman who consumed ashes with ‘medicinal value’ to cure jaundice still remains in serious condition, she said. The DMO has directed the public to stay away from such unscientific traditional medications for jaundice and warned that lapses and delay in taking proper treatment would lead to death. “The source of the ash which is being used widely to cure jaundice was found in Thrissur. We have also found another such medication using bananas,” she said. She warned that figures with Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme cell show that there are 917 suspected jaundice cases. 31 have been confirmed and seven died.