A child’s death from diphtheria can be heartbreaking, both for the parents and also those who are treating the children, says a paediatrician

“I remember going through two diphtheria epidemics in different parts of the country where we lost many children; children coming to us choking due to the membrane that diphtheria causes in the throat and our futile struggle to save them,” said senior consultant paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar-Singh HSS.

“For those who seemed to survive, some died suddenly from the complication of myocarditis (inflammation of the nerves of the heart). It was heart-breaking for parents and those of us caring for the children,” he said.

Dr Amar-Singh, who shared his views on the controversy about pa­rents who refused vaccines for their children, said: “To deny a child a vaccine for a preventable disease like diphtheria is unthinkable. Equally unacceptable are individuals who advocate that children should not receive vaccines.”

He called these advocates “du­­bious”, saying: “Where are they now that this child has died of diphtheria (with more deaths possibly to come)? Will they stand up and take responsibility for these easily preventable deaths?”

Dr Amar-Singh, who is the Paediatric Department head of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun in Ipoh, said the refusal to use vaccines appeared to be reversing all the health gains achieved in Malaysia.

“The majority of our population have little memory of the horrific nature of diseases that we have prevented using vaccines.

“Those of us who have worked in the health system for many decades have experienced the devastating effects of diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, measles and Hib meningitis, among others,” he added.

He said he sympathised with pa­rents who were worried about the side effects of vaccines.

It was important to trust facts and science, not claims or opinions posted on social media, he said.

“For the sake of your child and all Malaysian children, I hope parents will support the use of vaccines,” he said.

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by The Star

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