Bangalore, August 14, 2022: With an aim to create awareness and encourage people to donate organs, Aster CMI Hospital organized an organ donation drive today at the hospital. The drive witnessed doctors, nurses and staff from the hospital along with people visiting the hospital pledging their organs. Also, doctors narrate inspiring stories of those unsung heroes who have donated organs and saved lives. During the awareness drive, the transplant Team at the hospital spoke on the importance of organ donation, followed by a live interactive session. The drive saw more than 100 people coming forward to pledge their organs.

In India, there is a wide gap between the number of organs required and the organs available. Because there aren’t many organ donors worldwide, most patients still experience organ shortages and suffer as a result, approximately half a million people die annually due to the unavailability of organs. Organ donation is one of the precious gifts one can consider giving. One organ can save eight people. It offers a wonderful chance for everyone to make a decision to donate their priceless organs.

Also Read: Organ donation-India struggling with shortage of organs for transplantation

As a part of the drive, the hospital has set up a kiosk machine where one can scan the QR Code displayed within the hospital premises or one can also fill in the pledge form at the registration desk to pledge their organs and help save lives. The drive concluded by observing a moment of silence for those who died in the tragedy and their organs were donated to save others’ lives. To pay tribute and honour their ultimate sacrifice, top doctors and surgeons at the hospital lit up candles in their names.

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Holi, one of India’s most celebrated festivals, is finally here. The ‘Festival of Colours’ is celebrated on the occasion of the arrival of spring, the end of winter and the beginning of a good spring harvest season. This fun-filled festival is enjoyed by everyone where people smear and drench each other with colours. Water guns, water-filled balloons are also used to play. As with all activities that involve fun, there are a few practices that are not totally safe and healthy.

The use of chemicals in colours is still rampant during Holi and these irritate the top layer of the skin and can cause allergies and many skin intolerances. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is still on simmer mode, take extra care and exercise precautions. Celebrate Holi at home with family and close friends. For the cautious person and for people already suffering from eczemas, here are some pro tips to avoid damaging your skin.

Also Read: Coping with skin issues during Covid 

Pre-Holi Skincare Tips

Well prepared skin routine to minimise skin damage due to harsh colours. To prep the skin, one can use a thick hydrating cream and ensure that the skin is well-hydrated, this will help protect the skin from the chemicals and partially prevent the chemical from penetrating the skin. On the body apply a light oil like almond oil. It contains vitamin E and provides nourishment to the skin and acts as a protective layer between the skin and the colours.

And top it off with a waterproof sunscreen which will help prevent skin damage from heat, the sun and colours. Physical sunscreen containing zinc oxide is safe and effective. Stay Hydrated. As you are mostly outdoors and under the sun, keeping yourself hydrated is much needed. Avoid wearing too much makeup as the chemicals that are present in your cosmetics can react with the colours further causing a skin reaction.

Post Holi skincare

Various colours and use of water can damage our skin and leave it flaky and dry. Post Holi skin care is essential to nourish the skin, prevent damages and get back that natural glow. Gently massage the skin with light oil to take off the colour and wash off with a mild cleanser. A quick luke warm water bath to wash off the colour easily. Avoid scrubbing as it may dry out the skin and make it itchy and uneven.  Seal the skin with a hydrating moisturiser soon after bath.

Seek help from an expert in case the skin is reacting adversely

For patients of eczema who want to enjoy playing with colour, preferably do a patch test in the inner aspect of the forearm the previous day to rule out the possibility of an allergic contact dermatitis to the colour. Do this despite the packaging claiming to be organic/natural. People with sensitive skin are more prone to have adverse effects that can cause redness, irritation or breakouts. If someone is experiencing skin allergies, having irritation or some other skin infections, it is recommended to see a dermatologist rather than trying to treat it on your own at home. Basis your skin types, a skin expert will be able to analyze your skin condition and suggest an appropriate treatment to control the situation.

Dr. Shireen Furtado

Consultant- Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology

Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru

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Bangalore, February 03, 2022: To commemorate World Cancer Day 2022, Aster CMI Hospital in association with Datar Cancer Genetics, a leading cancer research company launched Comprehensive Cancer Screening Programme. With an aim to help patients detect cancer at its early stage that can save lives and drastically reduce the cost of cancer treatment, the hospital is bringing in EasyCheck360 (multiple cancers), EasyCheck FemmeSafe (women’s) and EasyCheck Prostrate cancer screening tests. EasyCheck is a revolutionary, radiation-free, globally recognized simple blood test for early cancer detection. It is clinically validated by one of the world’s largest clinical trials registered with the WHO clinical Trial Registry brought to you by Datar Cancer Genetics.

EasyCheck360 is a simple blood test that can detect more than 30 cancers. It is intended to be performed annually as a screening test, in individuals without any symptoms suggestive of cancer and aged > 30 years. And it can help detect cancers early that originate in the Oral Cavity, Lung, Breast, Esophagus, Stomach, Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder, Kidney, Ovary, Cervix, Prostate, Bladder and specified Sarcomas. EasyCheck-FemmeSafe for women can detect cancers early that originate in the Breasts, Ovaries, Endometrium and Cervix. FemmeSafe is the outcome of intensive research efforts of the last several years by internationally recognized scientists and doctors.  EasyCheck prostrate is a blood test that can detect Prostate Cancer and it is intended to be performed annually as a screening test, in individuals with no symptoms.

The technique employed is a proprietary technology which is a pathbreaking innovation, designed to detect circulating tumour cells (CTC) and their clusters before they become symptomatic or clinically detectable.  The tests analyse CTC in the peripheral blood of an individual, are intended to detect the presence of malignant cells and have been clinically proven to have 88.19% Sensitivity and 99% Specificity in detecting cancer.

Speaking on the launch of the Comprehensive Cancer Screening Programme and the need for early detection for cancer, Dr. Vijay Agarwal, Lead & Sr. Consultant – Medical Oncology & Haematology, Aster CMI Hospital said, “In India, every year 1.2 million cases of cancer are diagnosed which accounts for 7,60,000 deaths. Due to changes in lifestyle as well as other risk factors, these numbers are slated to increase in the future. When cancer care is delayed there is a lower chance of survival, greater problems associated with treatment and higher costs. Hence, early detection and providing timely treatment are important which can significantly improve survival rates. Early detection of cancer requires early diagnosis and screening. Early diagnosis focuses on detecting symptomatic patients as early as possible, while this screening consists of testing healthy individuals to identify those having cancers before any symptoms appear. I am sure that with the launch of this Comprehensive Cancer Screening Programme, one can avail to undergo testing which can help diagnose various types of cancers at the earliest.”

Speaking on the launch of EasyCheck360®: Breakthrough in Early Cancer Detection Ms. Samara Mahindra, Director, New Cancer Initiatives, Datar Cancer Genetics said, “Cancer has become a chronic disease and one which can be treated successfully if detected early. The key to beating cancer is screening and early detection.  Early detection will lead to a high chance of survival in most cases. EasyCheck360® is a breakthrough test and will go a long way in helping witness a cancer free India”

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Bangalore, November 26, 2020 – In an effort to increase awareness about the various health risks associated with the usage of tobacco, Aster CMI Hospital has launched a Smoking Cessation Clinic to aid people who are addicted to smoking and chewing of tobacco or other tobacco containing products in quitting the harmful habit. The Smoking Cessation Clinic will be held on all Friday, 4:00 – 5:00 pm at Aster CMI Hospital in Hebbal.

People who wish to quit tobacco consumption or smoking will undergo a detailed evaluation during this session. The clinic will analyse the severity of their addiction and will assess their current lung-function. A smoking cessation clinic can be an easy and effective way to treat tobacco use and dependence. The clinic will provide consultation from doctors and will also offer both counselling and pharmacological options to those who are attempting to stop tobacco use. It will provide intensive treatments to smokers who are motivated to quit smoking and aims to ensure a high success rate among the people who are addicted to tobacco use.

Speaking on the launch of the clinic, Dr. Sunil Kumar K, Lead & Senior Consultant, Interventional Pulmonology, Aster CMI Hospital, said: “As per a recent report by Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2, in India currently 28.6% (266.8 million) of adults aged 15 and above are addicted to tobacco in some form. The study further highlights that among these individuals, 24.9% (232.4 million) of the adults are daily tobacco consumers while 3.7% (34.4 million) are occasional consumers.This research also highlights that every tenth adult in India smokes tobacco which indicates how tobacco use is fast becoming a cause of concern for the country.

Tobacco use has now become a leading cause of pre-mature deaths and has become a major public health challenge. Even though many people are aware that tobacco use can increase the risk of cancer, however, there are still a lot of gaps on the other associated risks which this harmful habit can trigger. Therefore, with the launch of this Smoking Cessation Clinic, we at Aster CMI Hospital are strengthening our commitment to expand the reach of preventive healthcare and play a greater part in helping the public in curbing this illicit habit and enable them to take back the control of their lives.”

Sharing his views, Dr. Srivatsa Lokeshwaran, Consultant – Interventional Pulmonology,said: “The covid-19 crisis has made us realize the importance of living a healthy life. Recent studies have highlighted that smoke affected lungs find it harder to fight the coronavirus which makes smokers vulnerable to covid-19 virus. Smokers are currently at a much higher risk of developing a severe disease with Covid-19 virus.  Thus, for smokers and people who are addicted to tobacco, the pandemic is perhaps the best time to start afresh and quit smoking. The beneficial effects after quitting smoking can be felt as early as 20 minutes where one’s elevated heart rate and blood pressure drops.

Furthermore, within 2 to12 weeks, both the blood circulation and lung function improves and after 1-9 months coughing and shortness of breath decreases. After 10 years, their risk of lung cancer also falls to about half and the risk of many other cancers is reduced. Tobacco cessation can certainly benefit an individual’s health and can also have an overall benefit on the country’s economy by reducing the burden on the healthcare expenditure.”

Every year, globally, the month of November is observed as the Lung Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness about this menacing disease and to provide aid to those who are suffering from it. With over 2 million new cases detected every year, Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and people who smoke regularly are at an increased risk of developing lung cancer.  Therefore, as the number of incidences are increasing every year, prevention has become more important than cure and only through proactive actions and regular interventions taken to increase public awareness, we as a society can put a complete stop to smoking and consumption of tobacco.

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Bangalore, October 18, 2020 : In another effort to reach out to their community and help students, parents, faculty, and staff stay healthy and safe, Canadian International School (CIS), Bangalore in collaboration with Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, held its first annual drive through flu clinic on their campus in Yelahanka.  This one of a kind event, allowed families to get their much needed flu vaccine without having to step out of their vehicles.

“It was so convenient to be able to stop off to the CIS campus to get my yearly flu shot and not having to wait in a line or enter a hospital really kept my mind at ease.  My entire family got the flu shot today so we can stay healthy during this uncertain time.”- said R. Mehra, CIS Parent.

“Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and rarely even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently and adversely ; in times of COVID pandemic, it therefore becomes even more relevant to protect ourselves against a predictable seasonal infection. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children.”- said Dr. Chetan Ginigeri, Lead Consultant, Department of Paediatrics, Aster CMI Hospital.

“We at CIS realize the anxiety of having to visit a hospital or doctor’s clinic especially with your kids to got an injection in these times, so we thought we would ease some of that anxiety by hosting this drive-thru flu shot clinic on our campus. People stayed in their cars the whole time, a nurse from Aster CMI administered the shot to them in their cars. It was truly a stress free way to take the all important flu vaccine for the whole family!”- said Shweta Sastri, Managing Director, Canadian International School.

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In a show of tremendous willpower and determination, 16-year-old Sushma, hailing from Bengaluru overcame a rare life-threatening auto-immune disease and secured 76% marks and a distinction to clear her SSLC exam.  Sushma was suffering from Juvenile dermatomyositis for the past 2 years, a rare autoimmune disorder, where the immune system attacks blood vessels throughout the body causing muscle inflammation. The disease had severely affected her breathing muscles (muscles of the chest) and kidneys. She urgently needed dialysis, blood transfusions, and ICU supports along with steroid medications without which she would not have survived for long.

However, due to the economic condition of the family, the child was unable to receive the vital treatment which left her parents helpless and heartbroken. Efforts undertaken by the team of expert doctors at Aster CMI Hospital along with collaboration with a crowd-funding platform ensured the child’s survival and enabled her to appear for her exams. An ambitious young girl, Sushma always dreamt of becoming a lecturer one day. She was so driven by her aim that she never missed attending her school even when she was sick, but her aspirations were brought to a sudden halt when she severely fell ill two years back.

“My daughter suddenly complained of high fever and swelling on her face. A day before her sudden illness, she danced and sang on an occasion. So, we thought the activities strained her. But after a couple of days, her hands and legs were completely swollen, and rashes were beginning to show up. On the way to the hospital, she fell unconscious. We quickly consulted the doctor who told me that she is very critical and fighting for her life with a rare disease that is affecting major parts of her body. We were shocked and did not know what to do. But all we understood was that there was very little time left to save her, so we immediately admitted her in ICU.” said Sujatha, Sushma’s mother.

Symptoms of Juvenile dermatomyositis:

At the time of her admission at Aster CMI Hospital, 14-year-old Sushma presented several symptoms like fever, low platelet, rash over eyes, face and severe muscle pain and weakness, and also had renal failure. On further evaluation, it was found that the child had rashes over fingers (Gottron papules), a peculiar rash over eyes (heliotrope rash), hoarse voice and severe limb and respiratory muscle weakness, all of which indicated that the child was suffering from Juvenile dermatomyositis. The disease had led to respiratory failure in the child and she was put on ventilator support.

Given the severity of her illness, Sushma required intensive care in the form of regular blood transfusions, platelet transfusions, broad-spectrum anti-microbial, dialysis support, and immunomodulation (immunoglobulin injections, steroids) along with a 6-week long stay at the hospital. The cost of her treatment was estimated to be around 12-14 lakhs. But owing to the poor economic condition of the family, the child’s parents were unable to afford the treatment. Even after leaving no stone unturned, the child’s father who is the sole breadwinner for the family and is a priest at the temple was able to collect a sum of Rs. 7 lakh and were not able to meet the remaining amount. This is when Aster CMI hospital in collaboration with a crowd-funding platform came forward to raise the additional funds for Sushma’s treatment and played a vital role in saving her life.

Speaking about the cause of the disease and the complexity of the case, Dr Sagar Bhattad, Consultant, Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology, Aster CMI Hospital said – “Dermatomyositis is a rare auto-immune disease where the immune system attacks organs and tissues of the self. There is no particular reason or cause of this disease. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, where there is an attack on the joints, this disease primarily impacts the skin and muscle of the patients. Though it is more common in adults, we are now witnessing this in children as well. In Sushma’s case, she had severe muscle weakness and was unable to walk and breathe. By the time she was brought to our hospital, she had already developed respiratory failure and was put on ventilator support. Due to prolonged ventilation for more than a month, we had to conduct a tracheostomy enabling her to breathe. Later her kidneys had also shut down and she was put on dialysis support for a few days. Her condition was turning critical every day and during the initial few weeks of her treatment, we had thought, she may not make it. But our team fought on, as did Sushma and her family!”

“With the support from the funds raised through the crowd-funding platform, the family was able to continue her treatment and by the 3rd week, Sushma started showing recovery and by 6 months she started doing all her activities on her own. However, she still faced a challenge to hold a pencil or a pen for several months due to the severe muscle weakness in her hands. With the help of aggressive physiotherapy, she regained regular movements of the hand and could finally start writing! Today, as she has cleared her exam with an outstanding result, it is an extremely inspiring moment for all of us to witness, how her sheer determination and will-power enabled her to continue pursuing her ambition. We are glad that with our conscious effort we were able to give her a second chance at life.” – added Dr. Bhattad.

Thanking the doctors for providing the life-saving treatment to his daughter, Mr. Srinivas, Sushma’s father said – “Sushma used to read while I used to hold her favorite books during her treatment at the hospital. Her books were the only source of distraction for her that made her forget her pain. Even during times of extreme pain and agony, she did not let go of her ambition and her willingness to learn. I will always be in debt to the doctors at Aster CMI hospital for saving my child’s life and enabling her to continue chasing her dreams.”

Speaking about her success Sushma said, “I have always dreamt of becoming a lecturer one day and I am grateful to Aster CMI doctors who saved my life and have ensured that one day I am able to turn my dream into a reality. It is due to the constant support from my parents and doctors that motivated me to prepare for my exams and resume normal life.”

Also Read: ONLY 1 IN 10 PEOPLE WITH RARE DISEASES RECEIVE TARGETED TREATMENT IN INDIA

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Bangalore, August 14, 2020:  While everyone in the healthcare industry is currently focused on how to cure COVID -19 or find its vaccine, instances of primary immunodeficiency diseases are currently going unchecked and under-diagnosed. The current pandemic has now more than ever made it crucial for stakeholders in the healthcare industry to invest in the understanding of Immunology as many children continue to suffer immune deficiencies and are possibly,at an increased risk of developing severe COVID illness. Keeping this in the view, Aster CMI Hospital, a leading healthcare provider in the country has launched a book, titled, “Primary Immune deficiencies Made Simple.”

What are Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDD)?:

The book has been authored by Dr. Sagar Bhattad, Consultant – Paediatric Immunology and Rheumatology, Aster CMI Hospital to create awareness about these diseases amongst doctors and the general public at large. Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDD) are a group of more than 400 rare, chronic disorders in which part of the body’s immune system is missing or functions improperly. In these diseases, children are born with a problem/deficiency in the white cells. White blood cells are the fighters in our bodies. As these white cells are missing or not functioning normally, these children and adults are at risk for severe, persistent, recurrent, and unusual infections. Many of these children get hospitalized several times and some die even before getting the appropriate diagnosis.

Currently, 1 in 1000 individuals across the globe and possibly, more than 10,000 individuals in Bangalore, suffer from a problem in their immune system and are unable to fight infections in a normal way. While not contagious, these diseases are caused by hereditary or genetic defects, and, although some disorders present at birth or in early childhood, the disorders can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. These diseases are currently found to be more prevalent among the children and many recent findings from various experts have suggested that this is only the tip of the iceberg as lack of awareness, knowledge and training on these genetic diseases among the common people as well as the medical fraternity has created a huge gap in the detection of these diseases.

The book also gives a clinical approach to the readers:

With this handbook, the doctor has aimed to simplify the subject for the medical fraternity and increase the awareness of genetic diseases among the common people to further enable them to provide early diagnosis and the right treatment to children suffering from the deadly ailment. The book also throws light on the various ways and measures required to diagnose immune deficiency in patients and highlights how the understanding of family history, age-appropriate norms for immunological tests and types of blood samples that must be asked for is important for practitioners to correctly diagnose these rare diseases. Physicians can refer to this book and can make important decisions in a short span of time. The book also gives a clinical approach to the readers and discusses real-life cases to make diagnosing these conditions very easy for a practitioner even in a remote village or town.

Speaking on the launch of the book, Dr. Sagar Bhattad, Consultant – Paediatric Immunology and Rheumatology, Aster CMI Hospital and the author of the book, said – “Currently, there is minimal or no training provided on these diseases in medical schooling (MBBS, MD, DNB). Hence, doctors across the country may not be prepared to diagnose these diseases. This was the thought which prompted me to write a book on this topic and reduce the knowledge gap persisting among the practitioners with regards to the treatment of this disease. We have seen many families wherein multiple children have died before the index case gets diagnosed!

In serious immune deficiencies (eg: Severe Combined Immune Deficiency), the mortality is 100% in the absence of treatment. Today, many children and adults continue to suffer, not being diagnosed with the underlying immune deficiency. They often would be visiting many physicians, gastroenterologists, and pulmonologists. Here, they would be treated for the infections (lung/gut, etc), but the core problem remains undiagnosed. Therefore, it is time that we raise awareness and provide the right knowledge on PIDD to the medical fraternity and to the people of the country so that they don’t remain unchecked and gain maximum recovery rate.”

Over the last 2-3 years,Department of Pediatric Immunology at Aster CMI hospital has been regularly conducting CME and workshops to train the doctors on these diseases. We have conducted more than 30 such CMEs and trained over 1500 doctors across South India. We also provided free immunoglobulin infusions for a year for some of our patients under Aster@30 initiative. The government is also involved actively and is providing free immunoglobulin infusions to many of our PID patients. We are constantly working to create greater awareness for this underlying condition.” he further added.

Lack of time is a major challenge that most practitioners, physicians and medical students face and due to which they are unable to read and cope up with voluminous books published by foreign authors and remain unaware of such rare diseases. Therefore, this 170 paged-book gives a concise read on immunology, providing the right amount of information on these diseases in a crisp and simple manner. Busy pediatricians and medical students who may find it challenging to read lengthy texts on Immunology can make use of this book and can use it as a ready reckoner. 

Also Read : RARE DISEASE-RIGHT TO HOPE

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It is estimated that about 40 million people are suffering from chronic Hepatitis B and 6 to 12 million people with Hepatitis C. The pressing issue at the moment is that most people are unaware that they are suffering from a Hepatitis infection and unaware of this, they may be passing on the infection to others.

Symptoms:

Initial symptoms could include fever, muscle pain, change in appetite, general uneasiness which could progress into excessive tiredness, a drastic change in the colour and smell of urine accompanied with yellowing eyes and skin (signs of jaundice).

Prevention:

Hepatitis spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids. Apart from avoiding high risk behaviours such as practising unsafe sex and allowing unsafe, unhygienic materials like needles and blades to come into contact with the bloodstream, one can also ensure they are following a healthy lifestyle to strengthen their immune system. This can be done by following a balanced diet with a good amount of fruits and vegetables, variety of whole grains in moderate quantities, adequate protein and fibre intake combined with the right proportion of healthy fats and oils, aided by enough exercise.

Tests:

Hepatitis B surface antigen test, Hepatitis B core antigen test, Hepatitis B surface antibody test, liver function tests could be conducted to detect Hepatitis B. Anti HCV antibody test is done to detect Hepatitis C infection.

Dr. Mallikarjun Sakpal
Consultant – Hepatology & Liver Transplantation
Aster CMI Hospital, Hebbal
Bengaluru- 560092
Ph: 080-43420100

About Aster CMI Hospital

Aster CMI hospital, one of the top hospitals in Bangalore , with serene ambience, spacious interiors, advanced medical facilities, and best doctors, has always strived to achieve the best clinical outcomes. They believe in offering holistic treatment to every patient in a non-hospital like environment. They are one of the top super-specialty hospitals in Bangalore with contemporary state-of-the-art facilities accommodating close to 500 beds offering comprehensive primary care to quaternary care services.

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Is Thalassemia  a serious health burden for India?  Thalassemia is a genetically inherited blood disorder that has one of the highest incidence rates in India, with more than 10,000 children being born with Thalassemia per year making India officially the Thalassemia capital of the world.

Parents play an integral role in determining the fate of their child, not only through their developing years but also in terms of what kind of genes they pass on. Over 10,000 children with thalassemia major are born in India per year. There is an undeniable need to focus on prevention strategies to reduce the transmission of the Thalassemia gene from parent to offspring. Living with the disease can dramatically impact the quality of life of the child and the family as we do not have an easy way of curing Thalassemia without significant risks. Bone marrow transplant is the only known cure for Thalassemia however this is not a viable option for all patients.

70% of affected patients may not be ideal candidate for bone marrow transplant due to older age or because they do not have a matched sibling. Thalassemia drastically reduces a child’s ability to function normally in society as they have to constantly be aware of their health. Children with Thalassemia can suffer from a host of health consequences such as excess iron in the body, swollen liver/spleen, hormonal deficiency, cardiac problems and weak bones among others. Not only do these children have to undergo lifelong blood transfusion therapies to make up for the lack of hemoglobin production in their bodies, they will also have to undergo treatments for Thalassemia associated disorders. It is an expensive, timeconsuming and exhausting affair to constantly be fighting for life. The number of complications as well as the financial and emotional costs increase with time. The family will also have to take extra measures to encourage psycho-social growth of the child and integrate him into society.

The reason why Thalassemia has reached such epidemic proportions is two-fold. People earlier were either unaware about how the disease is transmitted and unwittingly bore a child with Thalassemia or they were aware of the possibilities of producing a child with Thalassemia and did not consciously consider the impact of the disorder on the quality of life of the child.

The custom of marrying among relatives has also contributed to increased incidence of many genetic diseases in India including Thalassemia. The carrier status of thalassemia can be very easily established by a simple and non-expensive test known as haemoglobin electrophoresis which is widely available. Developed countries such as Italy where thalassemia was once very common have virtually eliminated thalassemia form their country by raising awareness and by making thalassemia carrier state screening mandatory.

An individual can either be a carrier of the Thalassemia gene or a Thalassemia patient. We all have two genes representing the genetic code for production of beta globin protein, absence of this protein leads to beta-thalassemia. Individuals where only one of the two genes are defective are carriers of Thalassemia gene. They are not affected clinically but remain as silent carriers and are also known as Thalassemia minor. When two individuals who have the Thalassemia gene produce an offspring, there is a high likelihood that the child will be born with Thalassemia major (where both the gene copies are defective) – which is the most severe form of the disorder and requires lifelong treatment. A subset are affected with slightly less severe form of the disease called Thalassemia intermedia which deals a softer blow on the child’s health, but the child will still suffer from anemia, weakness and potential liver/spleen dysfunction or failure before eventually may end up having regular blood transfusions and severity is very variable among the intermedia group.

While it is clear that living with the disease greatly impacts the quality of a patient’s life, there are also roadblocks in terms of accessibility and costs of treatment. The benefits of tackling the disease at its roots far outweigh the pains of having to live with the disease. Here is where pre-marital screening and counseling contributes greatly to help couples make educated choices when it is time to conceive. Even if both partners are carriers still the Thalassemia can be prevented by special tests on the fetus during early pregnancy. The government in India must make efforts to introduce pre-marital genetic counseling and screening for Thalassemia mandatory for all couples and ensure basic knowledge about inherited genetic disorders are part of school curriculum. The onus is also on doctors to educate their patients about thalassemia on how the disease spreads and how the patient can make educated choices when/if they choose to have children in the future.

Dr. Stalin Ramprakash
Consultant, Paediatric Haematology, Oncology & BMT
Aster CMI Hospital, Hebbal,
Bengaluru- 560092
Ph: 080-43420100

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In an example of true human resilience and courage, Deena Vumshi, a 41 year old homemaker who was suffering from more than 10 different life threatening ailments recently underwent bariatric surgery to bring her health under her control. A sufferer of juvenile diabetes since the age of 7, Vumshi had developed morbid obesity over the years and was suffering from its multiple co morbidities. After careful evaluation and assessment she had Bariatric surgery to help improve her quality of life.

Vumshi’s story is unlike others because not only was she a patient of Type 1 diabetes and obesity related co-morbidities such as hypertension, hypothyroidism, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and sleep apnoea, the resilient woman had also recently suffered from a bout of swine flu, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and deep vein thrombosis. She was on ventilator in ICU for long time for swine flu.She had spent a significant amount of her time coping with her health problems in the last few years. Anyone with so many ailments would give-up, but not Ms. Deena.

Ms. Deena was an ideal candidate for bariatric surgery as this would bring her weight in control and simultaneously improve her other conditions. Her weight at the time of consultation was 115 kgs – this has drastically reduced to 70 kgs since her surgery. Her dependency on medication for her other conditions has also reduced since then.

The journey to ‘new life’ of normal weight and better health was not without some roadblocks. When doctors took her up for surgery, she was detected that she had tracheal stenosis (due to a previous tracheostomy) and so she had to undergo another surgery – a tracheal stenosis correction surgery in the first sitting. The strong willed Ms. Deena recovered from the surgery and then the green signal to go ahead with bariatric surgery.

After a successful keyhole bariatric surgery, Ms. Deena has recovered well. With significant weight loss and control of co morbidities, she now leads a better quality life. She no longer depends on a CPAP machine to sleep, can walk comfortably and has reduced her insulin dose drastically and consumption of many other medicines. She is now a happy person and her positive outlook to life has paid her rich dividends in the form of good health. Despite all she has been through, she still re-iterates that life is a journey and that no matter what comes our way, we must still carry on with our lives and enjoy! This is an extra-ordinary tale of courage and determination of a patient who inspires millions of others through her ‘never say die spirit’ and sets an example for the rest of the world, and of a woman who recovered from a frightful life through sheer grit and will power.

Dr. H V Shivaram
Sr Consultant – GI & Bariatric Surgery
Bengaluru-560092

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