Woman Dies After Taking Medicine for Toothache
A 32-year-old woman from Madhya Pradesh’s Jhabua district died after accidentally being given a pesticide tablet instead of a painkiller for a toothache. The shocking incident occurred on Thursday evening and has raised serious concerns about medicine handling at local pharmacies.
Incident Details
The woman, identified as Rekha, a resident of Dharampuri village, went to a medical shop near Thandla Gate in search of relief from tooth pain. A store employee mistakenly gave her a sulphas tablet, a toxic pesticide commonly used to protect stored grains.
Unaware of the danger, Rekha consumed the tablet after returning home. Her health quickly worsened, and she was rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, doctors were unable to save her, and she died later that night.
How Strong Is the Connection?
Doctors have noticed that people with gum disease often face higher rates of heart problems. A recent review of several studies found that having gum disease could raise the risk of AFib by about 30%. However, the reason for this link has remained unclear until now.
Post-Mortem Confirms Pesticide Poisoning
According to police, a preliminary post-mortem confirmed that Rekha died due to sulphas poisoning. This type of poisoning is known to act quickly and can be fatal even in small doses.
Pharmacy Owner Arrested, Shop Sealed
The local police registered a case under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The store’s owner, Lokendra Babel (52), has been arrested, and the shop has been sealed.
Officials from the Drug Control Department are now investigating how the hazardous tablet was being stored in a medical shop and whether safety protocols were being followed.
Salesperson on the Run
The police are currently searching for the salesperson who handed over the wrong tablet. “Efforts are on to locate the individual responsible for the mistake,” said Jhabua Superintendent of Police Padma Vilochan Shukla.
Conclusion
This tragic event, which occurred just 3 km from the Jhabua district headquarters, has highlighted the urgent need for stricter control over medicine sales and storage. Experts are calling for better training of pharmacy staff and routine inspections to prevent such life-threatening errors.
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
Priya Bairagi
Reviewed by Dr Aarti Nehra (MBBS, MMST)
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
