All were admitted to the CSI Hospital on Wednesday morning from where they were shifted to Epidemic Diseases Hospital on Thursday morning after the officials suspected the case to be a cholera epidemic. While their condition is stable, they are very weak with a few being put on IV fluids. The children were given idli and sugar to eat.
According to the duty doctors, the children complained of vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration. Two had also developed fever. However, 25 per cent of the children could be discharged by Friday, said the duty doctors. “We are concentrating on controlling the diarrhoea at present. Hence, the children are on fluids and antibiotics,” said Dr Ansar Ahmed, a government doctor, who was on emergency call. The children are aged between five and fifteen.
The doctors said if the children's condition does not improve, they might be shifted to Vani Vilas hospital. At present seven attendants from the orphanage are nursing these children. When BBMP official visited the orphanage, it was found that water in the tank was contaminated with sewerage water. Since water pipelines are located very closely to sewerage pipelines, contamination has taken place.
Residents around this place have been warned not to consume water and have been provided with ORS and medicines for communicable diseases. BWSSB has been providing water though tanker in these areas. As a precautionary measure, BBMP will be conducting a health camp on May 28. The orphanage run by Christian missionary shelters 65 girls. A Sara from the orphanage said this was the first incident of its kind in her 30 years of career.