13-Y-O DIES OF PANADOL OVERDOSE?

Given the tablet after reportedly contracting chik-V

Diandra Grandison, Staff Reporter

A 13-year-old boy is now dead, after he allegedly died of drug-induced liver damage, after he was reportedly given Panadol as treatment for a suspected case of chik-V.

THE STAR was informed that the teen, who was a student of a prominent All Boys' School in the Corporate Area, was initially suffering from a high fever and was given the over-the-counter drug, after it was suspected that he was coming down with the chikungunya virus.

He was taken to the Andrews Memorial Hospital for treatment, where an abnormality in his liver was detected, but doctors at the facility were unsure of the cause. The teen was admitted for two days but was released after doctors declared that he was improving.

Symptoms worsened

Shortly after, his symptoms returned and he was again given Panadol while at home, his symptoms worsened and he was taken to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) on October 3, where he spent seven days until his death last week Friday.

While at UHWI, a series of tests were conducted on the teen, which included chikungunya, along with leptospirosis, hepatitis and syphilis, all of which returned negative.

THE STAR was informed that it was later in his stay doctors decided to conduct another test and it was then revealed that he was suffering from Fulminant Hepatitis which is "the widespread inflammation of the liver."

Medical Doctor Jephthah Ford told THE STAR that he observed the post-mortem that was performed on the teen and in his opinion, the child died of Panadol Hepatotoxicity, which occurs when, "a person takes Panadol and it induces toxic damage to the liver".

Liver damage

In light of the chikungunya Virus outbreak, Dr Ford has chided the Government for instructing persons to take Panadol as treatment for the virus, stating that enough has not been done to warn citizens about the dangers of the drug.

"The Government is instructing people to take Panadol, but they should also be warning people about the dangers of the drug and how it can cause liver damage and even death."

Dr Ford is also calling for strict guidelines to be implemented for the sale of over-the-counter drugs in light of the teen's death.

"Panadol is currently being sold everywhere, the corner shops should not be selling it, and the sale should be restricted and governed so that it is only sold by pharmacies and in limited quantities to any one person at any time."