JAMMU: Not taking any chances with the health of eight patients from Badhaal village in J&K’s Rajouri district who recently recovered from the “mystery illness” after being treated with atropine medication, Rajouri Government Medical College and Hospital authorities Tuesday delayed their discharge until the final report on the toxins they had ingested was made available by the central forensic laboratory.
“As many as 11 patients are presently admitted at GMCH Rajouri and eight of them were to be discharged Tuesday, but authorities decided to keep them under observation,” an official said. The GMCH expert committee, under the chairmanship of principal Dr A S Bhatia, evaluated the situation and decided not to discharge the patients until the final lab diagnosis of the toxins came in.
Dr Bhatia said as of now, the exact nature of the poisonous substance consumed by the patients was yet to be ascertained. He said doctors began an empirical treatment based on statistical data and administered atropine to the patients, which proved to be a game changer and led to their full recovery.
“We must wait for the final report on the exact nature of the toxin so that the patients can be prescribed the appropriate treatment to ensure that they are protected from the long-term effects of the toxin,” Dr Bhatia said.
“Surprisingly, none of the patients from Badhaal village exhibited the typical signs and symptoms of organophosphorus poisoning against which atropine is effective,” Dr Bhatia said, adding that it was yet to be determined if there was any other poisonous compound present along with the organophosphorus, or some other toxin against which atropine proved effective.
Dr Bhatia said many poisonous substances have a longer reaction time and begin affecting patients even 3-6 weeks after consumption. “Hence, we don’t want to take any chances,” he added.
No fresh cases have been reported in the past four days. Meanwhile, three sisters referred to GMCH Jammu a week ago were sent back to Rajouri GMCH Monday after their condition improved, Jammu GMCH principal Dr Ashutosh Gupta said. The trio would remain under observation at GMCH Rajouri for a few days before being discharged.
Badhaal village has lost 17 members from three families since Dec 2024. Eight of the deaths — including that of six siblings — took place since Jan 12 alone.