BONGAIGAON, Oct 5 - The Bongaigaon Deputy Commissioner, Biswajit Pegu, ordered a magisterial inquiry on Sunday to find out the cause behind the sickness of some children allegedly after taking iron and folic acid supplement syrup under �Mission Tejashwi� on Saturday near Chalantapara in Bongaigaon district.
The �Mission Tejashwi� is a campaign under the National Health Mission (NHM) for treatment and prevention of anaemia among women and children.
More than hundred children in the age group of six months to five years, who took the syrup, of villages � Noldoba, Balapara, Tilapara and Hokodoba � under North Salmara subdivision in the district came to the nearest Mini Public Health Centre at Chalantapara on Saturday evening either to ensure safety or to take treatment for mild �vomiting� and �loose motion�, said Dr S Zaman, a physician.
According to Dr Zaman, only five to six children had mild side effects of the syrup, but most of the parents had rushed to the health centre with their children only to ensure their safety after hearing the rumour of iron dose reaction.
The iron and folic acid supplement can cause �bowel irritation� and �nausea� (vomiting sensation) if taken on an empty stomach. In some cases, the supplement dosage can cause �diarrhoea or constipation for brief period�, stated the press note of NHM, Bongaigaon.
So, to dispel confusion on the iron dose and find out the proper cause of the children�s sickeness, the DC ordered a magisterial inquiry into the alleged crisis.
