.........BHUBANESWAR: BEFORE six-year-old Somu could understand what swine flu is, the dreaded disease struck him. His battle with H1N1 for 10 days against heavy odds was nothing short of a miracle. It was the treating doctor and the committed hospital staff who snatched him from the jaws of death.


Somu showed symptoms of flu on August 23. Consultant paediatrician Pramod Kumar Mohanty referred him to Sparsh Clinic. His swab samples were sent to Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) on August 25 and it came out positive on 27th. Without taking any chances, Dr Mohanty immediately asked the shell-shocked parents to rush him to Apollo Hospitals. But there was no bed to accommodate the kid. It was an emotional outburst from a distressed father Saroj Rath and persistent convincing by the doctor which made the hospital authorities make alternative arrangements.

‘‘He had neurological problems which made the case even more complicated. The chance of severity is more with people having underlying diseases,’’ said Dr Mohanty.

Immediately he was administered antibiotics and Tamiflu and remained on drips round-the-clock. After days of intensive treatment, Somu was discharged from the hospital on September 2, fully cured but not before the parents spent 10 agonising and sleepless nights.

As little Somu battled for life on the hospital bed, the parents and grandparents remained on a wing and a prayer. ‘‘Every passing night seemed like a traumatic year. But we refused to give up,’’ said Saroj recalling the ordeal. At odd hours in the night, Dr Mohanty would come calling to the hospital to inquire about Somu’s well-being, he said.

‘‘ The mental stress was unbearable as Somu is our only child. I will give full credit to the doctor because the odds were heavily stacked against Somu,’’ said a relieved mother Amita.

Dr Mohanty said, ‘’This gives the only message - swine flu is not always fatal if the patient is given the right treatment at the right time. People should not dread H1N1.’’ He added, ‘’The kid is doing fine and there is very less chance of a relapse.’’ Swine flu has so far claimed 22 lives, a number of them kids, across the State since July. As many as 320 swab samples have been tested at RMRC of which 90 have come out positive.