Seven-year-old girl dies, several children hospitalised after taking anti-malaria tablet in Andhra Pradesh

PTC News Desk: A seven-year-old girl died and 52 others including 47 children were hospitalised on Wednesday after they were administered the anti-malaria drug chloroquine during a fever-surveillance camp in Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram district.

The tribal girl, Madivi Jamuna, fell ill and lost consciousness after taking the tablet following a drop in her blood glucose levels. She was initially taken to a nearby primary health centre and later shifted to a higher medical facility for advanced treatment, but died, Polavaram District Collector K Dinesh Kumar said.

Health department officials gave chloroquine tablets to villagers as a preventive measure after malaria cases were reported in the area. By Tuesday, at least six people in Gollaguppa village had tested positive for malaria.

A total of 54 people were taken to the hospital. Of them, 53 people, including 48 children and five adults, were receiving treatment. Another 17 villagers were being treated at a special medical camp.

"As part of the camp, we administered certain medications prescribed under the protocol to prevent malaria, including chloroquine tablets. After that, what we observed was that a seven-year-old girl, Jamuna, suddenly became unconscious. We immediately shifted her to the PHC and from there referred her to the Area Hospital in Bhadrachalam. She had fallen ill and become unconscious, and her glucose levels had also dropped. Unfortunately, the girl died," the Collector said.

Officials said quality tests on the chloroquine tablets had shown satisfactory results. However, to find out what caused the incident, the specific batch of tablets given to the villagers was sent to the Vizag Forensic Laboratory for testing.

Preliminary medical assessments suggested that Jamuna may have had an existing genetic or family-related heart condition. Doctors suspect that taking chloroquine in such a condition may have triggered an abnormal heart rhythm, although this has not yet been medically confirmed.

The Collector said the available evidence suggests that the cardiac arrhythmia may have occurred after Jamuna was given chloroquine, but further clinical tests are needed to establish the exact cause.

He said all the other affected villagers were safe and were receiving proper medical care.

The officer also said the medicines were given according to medical guidelines and in the prescribed doses for both children and adults.

He appealed to people not to panic, saying the government was closely monitoring the situation. The health of the affected villagers was being regularly checked, and necessary treatment was being provided.

According to the district administration, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation on Tuesday night and instructed officials to take all necessary medical steps.