Doctor's injection causes mystery illness

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi and Prasad Poornamal

A callous act by a qualified medical practitioner has afflicted children in the Puttalam area with a mystery disease characterised by the wasting away of their shoulder muscles.

The victims had originally sought treatment for asthma and wheezing, sources said.

A qualified medical officer in the Anamaduwa electorate in Puttalam had administered an injection claimed to be a long acting steroid, to children suffering from asthma and wheeze, sources said.

Information has confirmed that this injection is given for ailments such as arthritis. A Consultant Medical Officer assured that this was a drug administered mainly to adults. The whole incident came to light a few days back when two children were brought to the Chilaw Base Hospital for treatment for gradual wasting away of their shoulder muscles.

It was later revealed that these two children had obtained this treatment for asthma and wheeze.

It is learnt that this doctor is famous for curing asthma and wheeze of children and that a large number of patients had come even from outside Puttalam.

A Consultant Paediatrician told the Daily News that this should not have been given to children.

Sources said this MBBS qualified doctor has been administering this injection at his medical centre where he does private practise. He is also serving at a Government Hospital.

Sources said this doctor had given this "Intra Muscular" injection every two weeks to some children, claiming that it would stop asthma and wheeze.

"Owing to this injection, some children had experienced wasting away of their shoulder muscles," a Medical Officer who wished to remain anonymous told the Daily News yesterday.

One month ago, a child was brought to the Chilaw Base Hospital seeking treatment for the wasting of shoulder muscles in one hand. He was treated accordingly and there wasn't any medical investigation.

But suspicion arose when another child came to the same hospital seeking treatment for waste of shoulder muscles in both hands. Both were from the same area.

It is also learnt that samples taken from children had been sent to Singapore for further testing, but the disease is yet to be identified.

Doctors at the Chilaw Hospital believe that there may be more children suffering from this mystery disease due to this injection and requested parents to bring such children to the hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, sources allege that several other qualified doctors too are following the same method for treating the children suffering from asthma and wheeze.