Ten children of a government primary school in the Padedi Ador village of Santrampur taluka of Mahisagar district were hospitalised on Wednesday due to suspected side effects of iron pills administered to them by the district health department, officials said.
Officials of the district Education department told The Indian Express that iron pills are distributed to students every Wednesday as part of a government campaign to eradicate anaemia.
Chief District Health Officer (CDHO) Dr CR Patel said, “The side-effect of iron pills is common and out of 40 children, ten had shown symptoms. They were treated and discharged.”
“(The children) were rushed to the Santrampur state hospital after they complained of heartburn, stomach pain, and vomiting following the consumption of iron pills. It was a routine health programme and the medical officers have told us that it is a common side effect. There is nothing to worry about. There have been reports that the tongues of the children had turned blue but that is a common occurrence after consuming iron pills. No one was in danger,” an official of the Education department said.
Meanwhile, Dr Jignesh Bhagora of the Santrampur state hospital said that the children who were brought to the hospital had shown “usual symptoms” of side effects of iron pills. “We placed the children under observation even though none of them were in danger. Since iron pills are kept in the mouth for some time before swallowing, they leave behind a black tinge. It is not a sign of danger. Stomach ache and nausea or vomiting are also common side effects. The children were discharged on Wednesday evening,” Bhagora said.
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