Can Tramadol, a tablet, be administered to infants when they run a fever? No, say the anaesthetists working at government hospitals, on condition of anonymity, adding that it is a painkiller and not an antipyretic, which is prescribed for fever.
A senior anaesthetist also suggested that instead of Paracetemol tablets, the attendants who look after the infants should be given syrups or drops to avoid confusion between painkillers and antipyretics that have similar packaging.
“Tramadol is not an antipyretic, and is not used for treating fever. It’s a painkiller used for post-operative pain relief. It is given to infants too when there are no other options left. However, of late, Tramadol is not being given to them. We anaesthetists use Fentanyl for post-operative or intro-operative pain relief in infants,” the senior anaesthetist said.
Case registered
A father of one of the infants who died after developing complications allegedly due to consumption of Tramadol tablet, lodged a complaint against the doctors and staff of Urban Primary Health Centre at Nampally. Habeeb Nagar police have registered a case under IPC Section 304(a) (Rash or negligent act resulting in death).
Inspector T. Amrutha Reddy said Md Asif, 23, got his son vaccinated at the UPHC on Wednesday afternoon where Tramadol was given to him to be administered to the infant. He said after one-fourth of the tablet was given to his son, he fell unconscious and did not breathe. He was taken to a private hospital on Thursday afternoon at 1.30 p.m. where the doctors said he was brought dead. After performing his funeral, they got to know of other infants, who were administered vaccination at the UPHC, suffering similar complications.
Out of danger
Meanwhile, Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajender, who visited Niloufer Hospital on Thursday evening, said the infants were out of danger. He said they also called up the family members of the remaining infants who were administered vaccination at the UPHC at Nampally and that their condition was stable too. A total of 98 infants were administered vaccination at Nampally UPHC. The Minister said a committee comprising pharmacology professors was constituted to avoid such incidents in future, and another committee was constituted to oversee the treatment of the infants.
He added that action would be initiated against those who were responsible for the negligence.