Supreme Court to hear plea seeking formation of team of experts for treatment

The supreme court on Wednesday has agreed to hear the plea demanding from the center to form a team of medical experts who will treat the children in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur. According to a report by the Press Trust of India, 126 children have died of encephalitis by now.

The case was brought up to the Justices Deepak Gupta and Surya Kant of Supreme Court Vacation Bench this morning. The bench has agreed to an urgent hearing. In the petition filed by the members of Youth Bar Association, Advocates Manohar Pratap and Sanpreet Singh Ajmani they requested direction from the Supreme Court on providing necessary medical equipment and other support for effective treatment.

Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, Muzaffarpur, has 372 admitted cases of fever, hypoglycemia and unconsciousness. This is despite the fact that encephalitis outbreak is not new to this region — North Bihar-Eastern Uttar Pradesh – which has seen thousands of encephalitis-related deaths in the past few decades. According to a report by India Today, if you think some of the poorest countries in Africa are the worst places for a child to be born in, you are mistaken. Data suggest that most of them are better places than Muzaffarpur district of Bihar.

What is Encephalitis?

AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) affects central nervous system, mostly in children and young adults. It starts with high fever, then hampers neurological functions causing mental disorientation, seizure, confusion, delirium, coma. The disease outbreak is usually reported during monsoons (June-October). But the incidence is also reported during April-June in Bihar.

It can be caused by virus, bacteria, fungi, and a range of agents. Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is the most common cause of AES in India.

Due to the growing number of deaths due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, the State Health Society has deputed more doctors from neighbouring districts like Darbhanga, Supaul, Madhubani, Samastipur and Sitamarhi.

The number of deaths due to encephalitis rose to 112 on Wednesday; 93 children have died at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) while 19 others lost their lives at Kejriwal Hospital.

It’s not Encephalitis but Encephalopathy.

According to a newspaper report the disease is not encephalitis but encephalopathy. Encephalopathy is a biochemical disease, unless proved otherwise. The primary pathology is not in brain. Specific treatment is scant for encephalitis, but Encephalopathy is eminently treatable. The disease breaks out during the months when litchi was harvested i.e., April, May and June. It is triggered when unripe Ackee fruits are eaten. These fruits contain a substance, Methylene Cyclopropyl Alanine, which blocks a biochemical process called fatty acid oxidation, or Gluconeogenesis. The backup molecules of unfinished products are certain Amino Acid are highly toxic to the brain cells.

  Disease, health, muzaffarpur, Supreme Court