A warning from the case of 32 students being poisoned by chemicals

According to information from the parents, the children drank a syrup-like solution, but when they tried drinking it, they found it bitter so they quickly spit it out.

On the evening of January 22, 2025, Bach Mai Hospital received 32 pediatric patients from Tuyen Quang City due to suspected rat poison poisoning. The children, mainly students from grades 1 to 5 at Phu Binh Primary School, accidentally drank a rat poison containing the active ingredient fluoroacetate.

The patient is being treated at Bach Mai Hospital.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, immediately directed to concentrate all resources for emergency treatment and coordinate hospital-wide consultation to come up with the best treatment plan for the children.

According to information from the parents, the children said they drank the syrup-smelling solution, but when they tried drinking it, they found it bitter and spat it out.

Some children drank about 1-2 drops, while others drank 1/3 to 1 tube. Those who drank more had severe symptoms such as headaches, vomiting, dizziness, and were at risk of severe poisoning. At Bach Mai Hospital, the children were tested, examined, and closely monitored. Some children showed signs of brain and heart damage, while others had milder symptoms.

Regarding the origin of the chemicals, the students said that on the morning of January 21, a student found a bag containing many red and blue plastic tubes outside the school grounds, then brought it back to school and invited his friends to drink it.

The students also shared that in the afternoon, another student found a bag containing pink chemical tubes from the bushes near the school gate and tried drinking it. All of them drank it during the majority of the afternoon of January 21.

To date, Bach Mai Hospital has admitted and treated 32 children at the Pediatric Center and the Poison Control Center. The National Children's Hospital is also treating five children in the same case. Doctors conducted urine tests and received positive results for fluoroacetate from the National Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Doctors at Bach Mai Hospital quickly mobilized doctors and nurses and coordinated with the Poison Control Center to classify, evaluate, and treat the children. All children were examined, had echocardiograms, MRIs, and were closely monitored.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Nam, Director of the Pediatric Center, said: “As soon as we received the pediatric patients, the Pediatric Center quickly mobilized doctors and nurses and coordinated with the Poison Control Center to evaluate and classify the pediatric patients, and at the same time requested direction to establish a scientific council to consult the entire hospital.”

According to Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center, the red liquid the children drank has the characteristics of fluoroacetate/fluoroacetamide, a rat poison originating from China, which is highly toxic to the nervous system.

This chemical can cause seizures, coma, severe brain damage, heart damage, acute myocarditis, acute heart failure, arrhythmia, cardiogenic shock, with the characteristic manifestation of hypocalcemia.

Severe poisoning can cause multiple organ damage and failure. Fluoroacetate has been banned in Vietnam for many years but has recently reappeared in clandestine sales through unofficial channels, posing a serious risk of poisoning.

The Poison Control Center and the Pediatric Center have coordinated with the school to review and collect all remaining rat poison tubes or suspected chemicals on school grounds.

Doctors also asked the school and nearby educational institutions to check for poisoning risks and recommended hospitalization of students at risk. At the same time, the investigation agency was notified to find the source and strictly handle the illegal trade of these toxic chemicals.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen emphasized that this incident once again warns about the potential risks from toxic chemicals, and we need to be more proactive in ensuring the safety of children in schools. It is necessary to strengthen supervision to prevent similar poisoning incidents, especially when there is a risk from chemicals, pesticides or other toxic items.

This poisoning incident is also a reminder to protect children from potential dangers in the environment, especially on school grounds.

Doctors recommend that parents and schools always monitor and ensure children's safety, especially against the risk of poisoning from chemicals, unsafe food and other dangerous items.

Treatment and monitoring of the children are continuing, and doctors will inform about their health status after more detailed assessments in the coming days.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/loi-canh-tinh-tu-vu-viec-32-hoc-sinh-ngo-doc-hoa-chat-d242706.html