While we thought gaming could only lead to skipping schools and meals in children, a recent case has been reported of two youngsters admitted in hospital due to gaming addiction.

According to a report in The Times of India, two brothers, aged 22 and 19, were admitted in the psychiatry ward of Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia(RML) hospital after their parents noted alarming changes in their daily routine. Glued to their gaming consoles, the brothers had stopped doing their daily chores like studying, eating and sleeping. The addiction worsened when the two stopped using toilet and would defecate in their clothes while playing. The elder brother is a second year engineering student while the younger is studying in 12th standard.

"Many parents come to us with complaints of children spending excessive time surfing the internet. But this case was a shocker indeed. We had to admit them for over a month to reduce the craving for online games and prevent a relapse," Dr Sachdeva, psychiatrist at RML told TOI. Dr. Sachdeva who treated the two at RML said that the two had become mostly dysfunctional by the time they were brought to him. They had to stay for a month in the rehab centre of RML.

"Both their parents were working. They gave the children everything they demanded, from the latest gadgets to pocket money, but perhaps failed to provide the personal attention and guardianship they required most," said Dr. Sachdeva.

The medication process involved medicines like Fluoxetin and Clonazepam which are anti-depressant and reduce seizures.

