In yet another shocking case of alleged superstitious beliefs and practices threatening the life of a child, a seven-day-old boy, suffering a severe case of septicaemia caused by burns, has been admitted to the intensive care unit of the Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences hospital here.
According to Kenchamma, the child’s grandmother, the family, under the belief that the child would remain healthy if he was branded, had branded the baby eight times using a poker type of metal. This is a “blind faith” prevalent in the area and was carried out at Haraginadoni village in Ballari taluk since the child did not cry after birth, according to her.
Burns as a result of branding with hot metal had led to septicaemia and the child was rushed to hospital. “I was not in the village at the time of delivery. I came to know about the incident after my return,” Ms. Kenchamma, who brought the child to the hospital, told reporters.
“All the body systems, including blood circulation and respiratory system, have been infected. We have put the baby on ventilator and he remains very critical,” Dr. Srinivasulu, Hospital Superintendent, told The Hindu on Wednesday.
