Andhra reports its first death due to GBS as 10-year-old dies during treatment

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh has reported its first death due to the autoimmune condition Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).

A 10-year-old boy belonging to Santhabommali of Srikakulam was admitted to a local private hospital first on January 31 with symptoms of GBS. Later he was shifted to government hospitals in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam. As his condition worsened, he passed away a few days ago at King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam while undergoing treatment, and the incident came to light on Saturday.

The government said currently, the state has detected around 17 GBS patients, and they are being treated at government hospitals in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Guntur, and Kurnool.

State health secretary MT Krishna Babu said that Andhra Pradesh Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMSIDC) has been directed to ensure the availability of sufficient stock of immunoglobulin at Central Drug Stores across the state, and all necessary facilities have been made available at government hospitals.

He emphasised that there is no need for alarm, as all government general hospitals possess the necessary equipment to effectively treat GBS cases. Krishna Babu added that the GBS is covered under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva.

A note from the health department pointed out that the majority of patients, up to 80 per cent, experience only mild symptoms and recover even without immunoglobulin. Around 10 per cent to 15 per cent of patients with GBS have serious symptoms and may require ICU treatment with immunoglobulin administration. Patients with GBS are being treated at KGH, Visakhapatnam; GGH, Kakinada; GGH, Guntur; and GGH, Kurnool.