7-year-old fighting for life at RMCH

A seven-year-old child has been fighting for his life at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) for the last three days. His parents and relatives said this is a result of "wrong treatment" at a private hospital.

The child had been suffering from Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, a life-threatening skin disorder mainly affecting the eyes as well as other organs, according to RMCH doctors and police.

Currently, the child's entire body has become covered with blisters, which has forced his mouth and eyes to shut, they said.

On Monday, the child's father, vendor Rakibur Rahman Shuvo filed a complaint with Rajpara Police Station, accusing paediatrician Dr Asgar Hossain of wrong treatment.

Shuvo said he took his son to Dr Hossain's private chamber on January 4 as the child was suffering from fever with convulsions.

Dr Hossain advised Shuvo to admit the child to Royal Hospital, where he's a director. After a week's treatment, the child was released from the hospital.

However, more than a week later, the doctor changed his prescription.

On January 26, the child started developing blisters all over his body. He was admitted to the same hospital two days later.

As his condition deteriorated and doctors of the hospital were "not cooperating", the child was taken to RMCH on Monday night.

Contacted, Dr Asgar Hossain told a journalist that the child has suffered side-effects from medications.

"This can occur, and it will be fine," he told The Daily Star.

He said no wrong treatment was given and added that the patient's attendants misbehaved with doctors at the hospital.

Meanwhile, after the child developed blisters and peeled skin, his relatives shared images on social media.

Dr Asgar Hossain also filed a complaint with Rajpara Police Station, accusing the child's father and his unnamed relatives.

In the complaint, he brought allegations of cybercrime against the accused persons, also mentioning that they fled his hospital without paying off dues.

OC Maidul Islam of Rajpara police station, said they are investigating the matter.