Jaipur: Following the rise in diphtheria cases, Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur has shifted the isolation ward to a larger ward to treat patients with the ailment. From Aug 1 to Oct 15 this year, the hospital admitted 64 diphtheria patients from various parts of the state, with 26 in the first 15 days of this month.
Currently, 10 patients are undergoing treatment in the ward. The isolation ward, which had just six beds, was shifted to a bigger ward to treat at least 15 patients. While the diphtheria outbreak has been mainly confined to the newly formed Deeg district, sporadic cases have been reported from other regions of the state.
ENT dept treating serious cases
In Deeg, seven children died in just 30 days after failing to receive timely treatment. The ENT department of the SMS Medical College has been treating serious diphtheria cases.
“The survival rates of this devastating disease significantly improve based on two factors — patients getting admitted within 48 hours after contracting the disease, and immediate treatment with anti-diphtheritic serum (ADS) to neutralise the free flowing toxins produced by the bacteria in the body,” said Dr Pawan Singhal, senior professor and head of the ENT department.
Hospital authorities have requested the medical education department to expand diphtheria treatment facilities to areas from where cases have been reported. As many patients from other medical colleges and district hospitals are being referred to SMS Hospital, the ENT department has asked the state govt to ensure availability of ADS and other facilities at respective locations to prevent delays in treatment.
A 15-year-old girl from Jhotwara, who was admitted to SMS Hospital with diphtheria symptoms on Saturday, was discharged within three days after treatment. She had throat pain and fever.
In another case, a five year-old girl from Hanumangarh developed complications due to delay in reaching SMS Hospital.
