200 kindergarten kids suffer lymph node enlargement in E China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-14 22:10

CIXI - More than 200 kids from a kindergarten in Cixi in east China's Zhejiang Province have been diagnosed with an enlargement of the mesentery lymph node, the local government said here on Tuesday.

Among the kids, 146 have node enlargement exceeding 10 mm, which means they should be hospitalized, according to a parent who cited a doctor's suggestions.

The parents suspected it was cooking oil used by the Tiyi Kindergarten, which enrolled more than 400 children, that caused the lymph node enlargement.

However, an investigation by quality supervision authorities and medical professionals showed the cooking oil at the school was fine, said a Cixi city government spokesman.

An expert panel of seven local doctors said enlargement of the lymph node was common seen among pre-school children, so parents needn't take measures to deal with the enlargement.

The advise of the panel fell in question among parents of the affected children.

A man surnamed Zhou said he was told by a doctor an lymph node enlargement of more than 10 mm was unusual and the child should be hospitalized.

"Why do so many children have the same problem? What is the real cause, if it is not the cooking oil?" another surnamed Ding queried.

An investigation into the cause is under way.