Nalgonda: Seventeen children receiving treatment for viral fever at the Government Hospital in Nagarjuna Sagar fell ill on Friday night after reportedly being administered an antibiotic injection as part of their treatment protocol, triggering concern among parents and local authorities. According to hospital sources, 21 children from the Hill Colony, Pylon Colony and surrounding areas were admitted three days ago with high fever. During treatment, a duty nurse administered saline followed by an antibiotic to 17 of them. While 12 were discharged after their fever subsided, several began experiencing severe vomiting, diarrhoea and chills within 30 minutes of returning home.
Eight of them were rushed back to the hospital, and based on similar symptoms reported in the remaining discharged children and five still under treatment, doctors shifted all 17 affected children to the ICU for emergency care. Hospital Superintendent Dr. Bhanu Prasad, who reached the hospital at midnight along with an additional medical team, said that all children are currently recovering.
District health officials, including DMHO Srinivas and DCH Muthunayak, visited the hospital and interacted with parents to review the situation. Preliminary medical assessment suggests that the reaction may be linked to dehydration and gastric irritation caused by the antibiotic, leading to the complications. Additional Collector Narayana Amit said a committee has been constituted to conduct a detailed inquiry and submit a report within three days, assuring that action will be taken against those responsible if negligence is established.