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Initial investigation by the Department of Health (DH) into a suspected case of syrup medicine containing isopropyl alcohol continued today (September 7).
According to Dr Hin Lin-yee, a private medical practitioner in Yat Tung Shopping Centre, Tung Chung, he had prescribed a transparent syrup for running nose and allergy to 31 patients since August this year.
A DH spokesman said that DH had successfully contacted 20 of the 31 patients. Of these 20 patients (including the six-year-old boy admitted to PMH on September 5), four reported to have symptoms of throat irritation, nausea or vomiting after taking the syrup. The symptoms have subsided already. All the patients have been provided with health advice. Efforts by DH to contact the remaining patients are continuing.
The six-year-old boy is still in hospital with some cough.
Laboratory test by the hospital found the syrup medicine taken by the six-year-old boy contained isopropyl alcohol. Four stock-bottles of the syrup seized from the clinic were tested by Government Laboratory and were found to contain chlorpheniramine (a drug for running nose and allergy). Isopropyl alcohol was not detected.
The hotline 2125 2727 set up by DH has received a total of 96 calls since yesterday. Among them, 13 were reported to have received the prescribed syrup from the doctor. They have also been followed-up and given health advice. Of the 13 persons, a two-year-old boy was admitted earlier today for observation for suspected drug side effect. He has no symptoms and was discharged today.
Ends/Thursday, September 7, 2006
Issued at HKT 21:03
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