Health authorities reduce dose of the drug to children falling sick A day after over 800 schoolchildren were taken ill due to intake of iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets across the state, nearly 100 children fell ill in Sirsa and an equal number of children were taken ill in Fatehabad today. In the wake of children falling ill after consuming iron tablets, the health authorities in the state have decided to give a reduced dose of the drug to those who are finding it hard to tolerate it. Anil Saddi, a spokesperson of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in Haryana, clarified that the reduced dose of iron (60 mg instead of the regular 100 mg dose) will be given only to children with history of illness due to the pills for a period of four to six weeks and once they get used to the tablets, normal dose will be given to them. At Kagdana village in Sirsa, 50 children started complaining of nausea and vomiting. They were shifted to Community Health Centre (CHC), Chopta. Some of them were referred to General Hospital, Sirsa. At Balasar village in Sirsa, some children complained of vomiting and pain in abdomen. In Bahiya village, schoolchildren were taken ill due to the ill-effects of IFA tablets. Dr Surender Nain, Civil Surgeon, Sirsa, confirmed illness of 35 children in the district. In Fatehabad too, nearly 100 children complained of side effects of the IFA tablets. As many as 70 children were taken ill at Bhirdana, 15 at Ahlisadar and 10 at Chobara village in Fatehabad. Fatehabad Civil Surgeon Dr Suraj Bhan Kamboj said nearly 30 schoolchildren were shifted to General Hospital, Fatehabad for treatment. 12 fall ill in Ambala Ambala: Around a dozen students of Government Middle School Nadiali close to Ambala City complained of gastritis, vomiting and giddiness after consuming iron tablets in the school. Four of them were admitted to the Community Health Centre at Chourmastpur. It is to be mentioned that around two-dozen students of Jalubi and Khera villages were also admitted to the hospital on Tuesday after consuming iron tablets. After getting the information, a team of doctors, led by Dr Rajinder Rai, rushed to the Primary Health Centre Chourmastpur. The students were discharge from the health center late in the evening.