Civic body now says dengue claimed woman who ‘died of drug reaction’
Kurla resident Saira Sheikh (47) died of dengue and not because of the adverse reaction to Caftriaxone and Cefotaxime injections, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stated in an affidavit filed at the Bombay High Court.
Sheikh, a mother of two, was among 45 other women who fell severely ill after being administered the injections at the Bhabha hospital in Kurla (W) in August. In the affidavit, BMC officials said a polymerase chair reaction (PCR) test revealed that Sheikh was suffering from dengue. “After verifying all medical reports, it was revealed that Sheikh died of dengue and not due to reaction to any drug,” the affidavit stated.
Saira’s husband, Noor Mohamed Shaikh, however, had alleged, “She had fever with chills, so we took her to Kurla Bhabha Hospital. Her blood tests showed she had typhoid. She was doing well but then she was given the injections and she died.”
In all, 45 women had reacted adversely to the drugs and had shown signs of mass allergic reactions. They complained of severe abdominal pain, vomiting, breathlessness, giddiness and convulsions. Of the 45, 28 with severe reactions including Saira were transferred to KEM and Sion hospitals.
After Saira’s death, activist Ketan Tirodkar had filed a criminal complaint against BMC for negligence. He also stated there was a nexus between the civic hospital doctors and the pharmacists. Saira’s family, who live in Qureshi Nagar, Kurla (E), had lodged a complaint with the police and demanded an inquiry into the incident.
Sheikh, a mother of two, was among 45 other women who fell severely ill after being administered the injections at the Bhabha hospital in Kurla (W) in August. In the affidavit, BMC officials said a polymerase chair reaction (PCR) test revealed that Sheikh was suffering from dengue. “After verifying all medical reports, it was revealed that Sheikh died of dengue and not due to reaction to any drug,” the affidavit stated.
Saira’s husband, Noor Mohamed Shaikh, however, had alleged, “She had fever with chills, so we took her to Kurla Bhabha Hospital. Her blood tests showed she had typhoid. She was doing well but then she was given the injections and she died.”
Sheikh had died in August after she was shifted to the KEM Hospital. Antibiotics Caftriaxone and Cefotaxime are generally used to treat fever. She had severe breathing problems, nausea and giddiness when she was transferred to the KEM. She was immediately admitted to the MICU and put on life support.
In all, 45 women had reacted adversely to the drugs and had shown signs of mass allergic reactions. They complained of severe abdominal pain, vomiting, breathlessness, giddiness and convulsions. Of the 45, 28 with severe reactions including Saira were transferred to KEM and Sion hospitals.
After Saira’s death, activist Ketan Tirodkar had filed a criminal complaint against BMC for negligence. He also stated there was a nexus between the civic hospital doctors and the pharmacists. Saira’s family, who live in Qureshi Nagar, Kurla (E), had lodged a complaint with the police and demanded an inquiry into the incident.
