Table 2. Characteristics and symptoms reported by case-patients experiencing acute symptoms following consumption of high-energy biscuits supplied to students by the school feeding program during 27−30 October 2010, Gaibandha District, Bangladesh.
| Characteristics of case-patientsa
|
Number of persons, (%) N=30b | |
|---|---|---|
| Sex | Male | 9 (30) |
| Female | 21 (70) | |
| Education | Class 1 | 7 (23) |
| Class 2 | 11(38) | |
| Class 3 | 4 (13) | |
| Class 4 | 7 (23) | |
| Class 5 | 1 (3) | |
| Symptoms | Abdominal pain | 28 (93) |
| Burning sensation in the throat | 27 (90) | |
| Bitter taste in the throat | 17 (57) | |
| Headache | 13 (43) | |
| Nausea | 12 (40) | |
| Generalized weakness | 9 (30) | |
| Vomiting | 6 (20) | |
| Diarrhoea (defined as three of more loose stools per day) | 6 (20) | |
| Chest tightness | 5 (17) | |
| Neck pain | 3 (10) | |
| Vertigo | 2 (7) | |
| Loss of consciousness | 2 (7) | |
| Others (blurring of vision, throat ache, dry mouth, chest pain) | 7 (23) | |
| Feeding history | Had breakfast in the morning before coming to school | 29 (97) |
| Had eaten 5 - 8 biscuits at the same time | 22 (73) | |
a
Case-patients defined as any student from the affected schools who reported any two symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, heart burn, bitter taste, headache, neck pain, or chest tightness following consumption of high-energy biscuits on the day of the illness.
b
Out of 44 case-patients, we surveyed the 30 students who were present in the schools during the investigation.