A 15-year-old boy suffering a gastro complaint was mistakenly diagnosed with AIDS and his weight dropped 30 kilograms after two months of improper treatment in Heilongjiang Province.

Two months ago, the native of Heilongjiang's Jiamusi City experienced diarrhea and his relatives sent him to a hospital in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang. He received antibiotics for more than one month but became even weaker and had severe diarrhea, Harbin Daily reported yesterday.

His parents took him back to Jiamusi where a doctor suspected the boy had AIDS as he was thin, had a slight fever and was dehydrated. The doctor carried out anti-inflammation treatment for more than two weeks, the report said. His health deteriorated rapidly and his weight dropped from 65kg to 35kg.

His family later took him to The Fourth Hospital affiliated to Harbin Medical University. After a careful check-up, he was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. Doctors at the hospital altered his treatment and he fully recovered in two weeks, the report said.

(Shanghai Daily November 4, 2008)