Written By: Nirmalya Dutta | Updated : June 17, 2014 6:14 PM IST
The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the West Bengal government over the death of nine children due to the consumption of contaminated lychees. Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report, the National Human Rights Commission sent notice to the West Bengal chief secretary seeking a report within four weeks. The official has also been asked to inform the panel if similar cases were reported from other parts of the state.
'As per reports, at least nine children, aged between three to five years, died over a period of three days in Kaliachak village in Malda district. They showed symptoms of acute encephalitis syndrome, loosely described as lychee syndrome,' the NHRC said.
The children were reported to be from around a lychee plantation, it said. Citing expert opinions, the commission said colouring agents and insecticides used on the lychee crop were the cause behind the disease. It said that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the children.
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.
How to recognise the 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 appetitive and irritability.
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