Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Updated : June 17, 2014 9:30 AM IST
Love eating litchi? Well, think again. A new surge of infections and deaths caused by the litchi virus has people fearing the fruit. The litchi virus (found in the litchi fruit), has recently caused the death of eight children in the Malda district in West Bengal.
The virus, it is reported, causes a grave condition called encephalopathy which leads to high grade fever, vomiting and convulsions. The condition affects the brain and can quickly lead to death.
So far, children between the ages of 3-5 years have perished while at least six children have been admitted to the Malda Medical college for treatment. (Read: 10 vaccines recommended for your child)
According to experts the virus was first discovered in China and Vietnam several years ago and then spread to Muzaffarpur in Bihar. Interestingly, Malda district saw a larger production of litchi this year leading to greater consumption of the fruit. (Read: Food poisoning: Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment)
According to the health department, they are not sure about what preventive measures people should follow and they are currently waiting for the medical team from Kolkata, expected to reach Malda on Saturday evening to give them a better idea of the condition.
In a statement to the Times of India, Dr M A Rashid, vice-principal of Malda Medical College, confirmed that the victims suffered from high fever and their brains were affected. With the sudden rise in temperature, they began to vomit and had convulsions. 'We appeal to people that whenever you see such symptoms, bring the children to hospital immediately,' Rashid said.
We think, knowledge is power, so before the medical team comes to a conclusion, here is some information that could help you stay safe from the virus.
What is encephalopathy?
Encephalopathy is the inflammation of the brain. Caused due to an infection the most common cause is a viral infection, but bacterial encephalopathy has also been known to occur.
The symptoms of the condition are usually flu-like symptoms namely fever, malaise, generalised fatigue and severe headaches. In some cases a person may suffer from seizures, bouts of vomiting, dizziness and confusion. In severe cases encephalopathy can lead to death.
In the case of this condition, timely diagnosis and treatment are an absolute must.
Recognise the symptoms in your child:
Children often suffer from symptoms like bulging in the fontanels (soft spots) of the child's head. Nausea, vomiting, body stiffness, continuous and inconsolable crying, sleeping too much, lack of appetite and irritability.
Update:
The minister of Malda district has recently declared that children should not eat litchi. He said, 'Green litchis contain toxins, which reduce the blood sugar level as well as glucose in the body leading to the infection, particularly in children,' Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya told the Assembly. The virus had led to the death in five children to six hours, leaving other children battling for their lives.
The minister said that on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's instruction, the state government took steps to arrest the situation which created panic among residents. Teams from the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine and Indian Council of Medical Research were sent to the district by the health administration. 'Samples have also been sent to well known national institutes including one in Pune and the reports are awaited,' the minister said. Director of Medical Education Dr Susanta Banerjee, however, said that there was no conclusive evidence to link the disease to the fruit.
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