16-year-old from Kandivli may be sixth lepto victim this monsoon
MUMBAI: A 16-year-old boy from Kandivli is suspected to have died of leptospirosis which he is likely to have contracted after swimming in a pond. If confirmed, Tanmay Pradnye will be the sixth victim of the waterborne bacteria in the city this monsoon.
While municipal health officials are yet to ascertain the exact cause, Tanmay’s medical history revealed that he fell ill after swimming in a nearby pond.
Tanmay is also the second teenager who died of suspected leptospirosis. Earlier this month, a 17-year-old Worli resident died of leptospirosis at KEM Hospital, after playing in the waters at Worli sea face. Tanmay had secured 70% in his SSC examination and recently bagged a seat in Patkar College, Goregaon. His neighbours said Tanmay, along with his friends, used to swim in a nearby pond. “After the recent swimming session with his friends, he had acute fever, body pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. His family members admitted him to a nearby nursing home on July 24,” said his neighbour Kishor Rane.
Within 24 hours of admission, citing his critical condition, doctors at the nursing home shifted to Sidhhivinayak Hospital, Malad, on July 25.
His blood reports confirmed leptospirosis as a cause of his ailment, and he was kept on ventilator. Tanmay died on Saturday.
Doctors said his condition started deteriorating after the admission. “Within two days of treatment, his organs started collapsing and his health parameters didn’t improve. He died on Saturday morning,” said doctors.
“After Tanmay’s death, civic officials distributed medication to all children, who had a history of swimming in the pond. They have instructed children to not play in water bodies,” he added.
Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, said its review committee is yet to confirm that Tanmay died of leptospirosis. The final report is expected on August 1, said Keskar.