44 Palaro athletes in P'sinan fall ill

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines – At least 44 athletes participating in the Palarong Pambansa have fallen ill and sought medical care at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) here.

Dr. Policarpio Manuel, PPH assistant hospital chief, told The STAR yesterday that most of them suffered minor injuries or had fever or abdominal pain.

One of the athletes, John Bryan Otico, a 12-year-old lawn tennis player, though was found to have dengue fever. He is now in stable condition at the PPH’s intensive care unit.

Otico had had fever before leaving Bukidnon on May 1 and his condition worsened while his group was billeted at the Domalandan Elementary School in the capital town of Lingayen. 

Another Palaro participant, Roel Chavez, softball coach of Agusan del Norte, underwent an operation due to acute appendicitis and was discharged from the hospital on May 5.

Dr. Ana de Guzman, provincial health officer, said medical teams are assigned round the clock in the athletes’ quarters.

De Guzman said at least three athletes from Bicol and Bohol had chicken pox, experiencing fever a day after they arrived in their assigned living quarters and that they had been sent home.

Diarrhea cases were also noted among some athletes billeted in Labrador town but these were immediately contained, De Guzman said.

A special child athlete for the Special Olympics being held alongside the Palarong Pambansa was given blood transfusion after doctors suspected the patient to be suffering from leukemia.