Father protests as 4-year-old dies from watermelon poisoning

Reports circulated on social media that on August 16 of this year, a 4-year-old child died at the No. 4 City clinical infectious diseases hospital in Tashkent. The child’s father claimed that the doctors were negligent. In response to the incident, the Tashkent City Health Department issued an official statement.

It was stated that on August 15 at 08:30, Z.A., born in 2021, was brought to the No. 4 City clinical infectious diseases hospital by his parents, complaining of repeated vomiting, fever, diarrhea, weakness, and abdominal pain. The child’s mother was immediately interviewed to collect an epidemiological history.

It was reported that three children in the family exhibited symptoms of repeated vomiting, diarrhea, and fever after consuming watermelon at home. All three patients were admitted to the aforementioned hospital for treatment.

Specifically, Z.A. exhibited repeated vomiting, watery diarrhea, fever up to 38°C, and abdominal pain. The child was diagnosed with “acute intestinal infection, gastroenterocolitis type, complication: toxic-exicose stage 1–2.

Upon arrival at the hospital, the child underwent general and biochemical blood tests, as well as complete urine and stool analyses. A bacteriological smear was taken, and an abdominal ultrasound examination was performed. Considering signs of dehydration, including high fever and repeated vomiting, a treatment plan was developed. Intravenous fluids were administered to address dehydration, and antibiotic (etiotropic) therapy was initiated.

As a result of these measures, within 24 hours, the child’s body temperature stabilized at 37.7°C, and diarrhea decreased, although vomiting and nausea persisted. The child remained under the supervision of the treating physician, and a medical consultation was held to determine an additional treatment plan.

According to the report, the patient was examined by the on-duty doctor at 20:40 and 23:00. During these check-ups, the child vomited 4–5 times, had a body temperature of 37.7°C, and showed signs of persistent dehydration. To prevent further dehydration, intravenous fluids and antiemetic medication were administered. At 01:50, the child’s mother again brought the patient to the on-duty nurse, who transferred the child to the intensive care unit. There, for 40 minutes, resuscitation measures were carried out by the ICU physician, the on-duty doctor, and medical staff. The upper respiratory tract was cleared using an electric suction device (which requires 1–2 liters of water inside to create negative pressure), assisted ventilation was provided using an ambu bag, indirect closed-chest cardiac massage was performed, and necessary emergency medications were administered.

Despite the urgent resuscitation measures, the child was pronounced biologically dead at 02:30. The diagnosis was “acute infectious intestinal disease, gastroenterocolitis type, aspiration syndrome.” The child was sent for a forensic medical examination at the Republican Center, where the preliminary findings indicated “other types of cardiorespiratory failure, diarrhea, and gastroenteritis suspected to be associated with intestinal infection A09.

According to the report, law enforcement agencies are currently investigating the death of Z.A. A final statement regarding the child’s death will be issued following the completion of the investigation and the conclusions of the Republican forensic medical examination.

It is worth noting that earlier, a 16-year-old girl who underwent nasal surgery died in the hospital in Samarkand city. The girl’s mother claimed that doctors had warned her daughter’s heart did not withstand the operation, although she considered her daughter healthy. In response, a service inspection has been ordered by the regional Health Department regarding the conduct of staff at the Multidisciplinary Medical Center.