Health

In the global landscape of neurodiversity, a profound silence often surrounds the experiences of women and girls. While awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is growing, the data in India reveals a troubling disparity.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the global prevalence of autism is approximately 1 in 36 children. However, in India, the diagnostic gap remains stark. Research published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders indicates that for every four boys diagnosed with autism in India, only one girl is identified. Medical experts are now sounding a critical alarm: this 4:1 ratio is not a biological certainty—it is a diagnostic blind spot. While young boys may express their neurodivergence through outward disruption, young India...

India is facing a growing but underrecognised liver health crisis. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NAFLD (Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) affects between 9 per cent and 32 per cent of the population, impacting nearly one in three individuals, and is being recognised as a `silent epidemic`.  Liver-related medical conditions already contribute to over 66 per cent of total deaths, and rising treatment costs are making them an increasing financial burden.  While India has integrated NAFLD screening into its NP-NCD (National Programme for Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases) programme, this policy momentum must be complemented by stronger individual-level financial preparedness. On the occasion of World Liver Day, observed on April 19, Care Health ...

While liver conditions like jaundice, hepatitis, and liver infections have long been recognised health concerns, Mumbai doctors are now seeing a sharp rise in fatty liver disease among young adults. The disease was once considered a condition linked mainly to obesity and older age but is now increasingly affecting people are between the age group of 20-35 years. Experts warn that beyond weight gain, factors such as chronic stress, poor sleep, unhealthy eating habits, and sedentary lifestyles are silently contributing to this growing trend. World Liver Day is observed on April 19 every year, and they take the opportunity to not only remind but also emphasise on the importance of timely screening, regular health check-ups, and simple lifestyle changes like a balanced diet, physical activity,...

For the modern professional, the recipe for good health is often reduced to a simple equation: eat clean, avoid sugar, and hit the gym. Yet, a growing number of patients are walking into clinics with a confusing diagnosis. They are lean, they are health-conscious, and they rarely touch alcohol—yet their scans reveal Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), now increasingly referred to as MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease). The missing variable in the equation is cortisol. The scale of this issue is staggering. Recent data suggests that nearly 1 in 3 adults globally suffers from MASLD. In India, the prevalence is particularly alarming, with studies indicating that up to 32 per cent of the general population is affected. Most notably for the urban workforce,...

In a landmark achievement, the IIT Gandhinagar has developed a hydrogel-based technology with potential of spurring further innovations -- thereby resulting in "simplification" of surgery for colon-related tumours. The hydrogel-based technology uses biocompatible polymers to provide localised, controlled, and intelligent drug delivery, leading to treatment efficacy while minimising systemic toxicity. According to Harshil Dave, the young scientist from Mehsana, who is reported to have achieved the breakthrough in the field of medical science explained the tech-oriented leap in treating patients with colon tumour. Notably, the hydrogel-based technology aids in the surgical removal of colorectal polyps -- tumors that carry the potential to evolve into cancer. Research scholar Harshil note...

In a move to expand its footprint in southern India and bolster preventive healthcare, a doctor-led, AI-enabled ecosystem offering real-time medical supervision beyond hospital settings was launched in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The initiative aims to improve clinical outcomes for patients with chronic conditions preventing their escalation into serious illness and reduce the risk of sudden cardiac events. At the core of the ecosystem -- iLive Connect -- is a small wireless biosensor patch paired with a wearable wristband, which monitors vital parameters such as heart activity and blood pressure in realtime. As part of the system, data is tracked 24x7 by experienced doctors at a remote command centre, who alert patients and their families in case of any abnormality. Around 40 doctors, includ...

Leading specialists on Sunday warned that excessive consumption of energy drinks is emerging as a leading cause of liver damage among India`s youth, on the occasion of the `World Liver Day`.  Doctors warned that the trend is accelerating, with young patients increasingly showing early signs of liver disease. Energy drinks are aggressively marketed to young consumers as performance enhancers and fatigue relievers but these drinks often contain caffeine levels far exceeding recommended daily limits, along with substances such as taurine and herbal stimulants, which the liver must metabolise. Over time, this biochemical overload can impair liver function, medical experts said. Doctors also warned against the increasingly popular trend of mixing energy drinks with alcohol. The stimulant ef...

A team of researchers said on Wednesday that an increasing number of fungi are becoming resistant to medication, posing serious risks for patients with weakened immune systems. Under the leadership of Paul Verweij, medical microbiologist and professor at Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc) in the Netherlands, 50 researchers from 16 organisations worked together, according to a paper published in Nature Medicine. They gathered global data and developed a five-step plan to better monitor and prevent the rise of resistant fungi. The five steps include awareness, surveillance, infection prevention and control, optimised use, and investments. Fungal resistance does not develop in hospitals but originates largely in the environment. Fungicides used to protect crops against fungal p...

Hepatitis A is a mild viral infection, especially in children, who often go unnoticed or recover without major complications. However, doctors warn that the impact of Hepatitis A can be very different in adults, particularly those with underlying liver conditions such as fatty liver or cirrhosis. In such individuals, the infection can trigger severe complications, including acute liver failure, making early awareness, vaccination, and preventive care essential. Hepatitis A is a viral infection spread through contaminated food, water, or poor hygiene, causing symptoms like fever, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and jaundice. Complications can include acute liver failure, prolonged jaundice, and in severe cases, life-threatening liver damage requiring hospitalisation or transplant. “Hepat...

Every year on World Haemophilia Day, celebrated on April 17, the global medical community turns its attention to a condition long characterised as a man’s disease. However, beneath this traditional narrative lies a silent, growing crisis: thousands of Indian women who carry the haemophilia gene suffer from chronic, debilitating bleeding symptoms, yet remain trapped in a cycle of misdiagnosis. While medical textbooks once labelled women as ‘passive carriers’, the data tells a far more urgent story. According to the World Federation of Hemophilia, nearly 33 per cent of people living with haemophilia globally are female, yet the Hemophilia Federation India notes a massive registration gap, with tens of thousands of women likely missing from official records. Experts now reveal that 1 in 3 wo...