KARACHI, Aug 20: A mysterious illness is understood to be responsible for the death of more than 100 children in Karachi during the last four months.

Reports collected from major teaching hospitals revealed that a viral illness — known as acute myocarditits — has killed more than hundred children in the paediatrics and cardiac wards of various hospitals, Dr S.M. Afaq of the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) said on Tuesday.

Reports from laboratories of these hospitals further confirmed that Coxsactive “B” is responsible for spread of this uncommon disease, said a paediatric cardiologist.

Though total number of children who fell victim to this disease is small, but the outcome is grave as it has killed more patients in a give period than malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid, respiratory tract illnesses or diarrhoea, resulting in a discomfort and anxiety among doctors, he observed.

The disease usually presents with an acute symptoms of breathing difficulty, restlessness and abdominal pain in older children or excessive crying in small children. Abdominal pain is sometimes so severe that one child went under surgery and later was referred to the cardiac ward, said a cardiologist.

Most of the patients are between the ages of three months to five years belonging to the slum areas. The disease is so fatal that average duration of illness is round 48 hours and 70 per cent of the patients died in emergency wards.

Humans are the only known host for the ubiquitous Coxsactive- B viruses. They are spread by faecal, oral respiratory routes and from mother to infant. Infection occurs more frequently in lower socio-economic groups, and where hygienic condition is poor.

No specific treatment is currently available, but early referral to a large teaching hospitals may be life saving.—PPI