Students taken ill

Consume folic acid tablets distributed free at Zilla Parishad High School

Scores of students took ill after consuming the folic acid tablets distributed free at the Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS) in Dharmaram village in Geesukonda mandal here on Tuesday.

The students, soon after consuming the tablets, developed complications such as stomach pain, vomits and motions. The local Primary Health Centre (PHC) conducted the health camp at the school and distributed iron tablets to supplement the iron deficiency (anaemia) among the rural children.

A total of 80 students were brought to the MGM Hospital and 50 were discharged after treatment.

Another 30 would also be discharged, said district Collector Vakati Karuna. The tablets were given on empty stomach triggering allergic reaction,” she said stating that all the children were safe and out of danger.

Regional director of Health, Nageswar Rao, said the children should been given tablets after lunch but were given before lunch.

There was no need to panic and all the children are safe. Most of them were discharged already, he told the newsmen.