Health

Doctors at a hospital in Mumbai have saved the life of a 75-year-old cancer survivor, whose food pipe ruptured due to retching (forceful vomiting), by performing a minimally invasive endoscopic repair of his torn food pipe. The patient visited multiple hospitals for 15 days, in the hope of getting better treatment after battling fever, breathlessness, and being treated for pneumonia and fluid collection around the lungs. He was then brought to Nanavati Max Hospital in the emergency ward in a serious condition. The patient was experiencing breathlessness that began after an episode of retching. It was suspected that the patient had suffered an oesophageal rupture due to a sudden increase in pressure within the food pipe. A chest scan confirmed a rare diagnosis- Boerhaave’s syndrome. Dr H...

Even healthy, full‐term babies are at significant risk of intensive care or prolonged hospitalisation from serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections -- especially during the first three months of life, according to a study.  RSV is a common cause of respiratory infections in young children. Each year, RSV causes an estimated 3.6 million RSV-associated hospitalisations and approximately 100,000 RSV-attributable deaths in children under the age of five. It is well-known that premature babies and children with chronic diseases are at increased risk of developing severe illness when infected with RSV. But it has not been entirely clear how common severe disease is among previously healthy children. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden analysed data from over 2.3 milli...

A team of researchers in China has led a first-in-human trial of an antibody drug that may provide better treatment for people with relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).  SCLC is a fast-growing, highly malignant lung cancer. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were 2.48 million people diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022. Of those, small cell lung cancer was diagnosed in 11.5 per cent of men and 9.7 per cent of women. Small-cell lung cancer has limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. The Phase I study of SHR-4849 (IDE849) -- a Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3)-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) -- demonstrated manageable safety and early signs of anti-tumour activity in patients with relapsed SCLC. SHR-4849 consists of a humanised anti-DLL3 IgG1 mono...

In a rare and extraordinary medical case, doctors at a Mumbai hospital have given a new lease of life to a child in the city, after successfully removing a metal LED bulb lodged in his lung. It put an end to a three-month-long struggle with persistent cough and respiratory distress. The three-and-half-year-old child had been suffering from what was initially diagnosed as pneumonia and was treated with multiple courses of antibiotics. Despite extensive care, his symptoms persisted, prompting advanced investigations, including a CT scan, which revealed a metallic foreign body lodged deep in the left bronchus. Following unsuccessful attempts at flexible bronchoscopy in Kolhapur, the child was referred to doctors at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre in Mumbai, where a rigid bronchoscopy r...

Over 14 per cent of those aged 45 and above in India could be affected by obstructive lung disease, reveals an analysis by an international team of researchers, including those from Mumbai`s International Institute for Population Sciences. Over 31,000 adults were administered spirometry -- commonly used to test how well one`s lungs work -- as part of the `Longitudinal Aging Study in India` (LASI), the country`s first and world`s largest database of older population recorded over long-term. The findings published in the journal PLOS One show that men could be affected more, compared to women, and the prevalence increased with age. Obstructive lung disease -- of which Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a type -- is marked by damage to lungs, causing inflammation and obstr...

More than 50 per cent of the Gen Z women want fertility checks as part of their routine health tests, a survey has found. Gen Z (Generation Z) refers to individuals born between 1997 and 2012. A nationwide survey was conducted by Motherhood Hospitals and Nova IVF Fertility, taking inputs from over 200 women aged 23 to 30 years across metros and tier-I cities. It sheds light on perceptions of fertility, timelines and reproductive health among young professionals. As per the survey finding, 51 per cent of India`s Gen Z women want fertility checks as part of their routine health tests. Just like their financial health, members of the Gen Z are looking at a more planned approach to parenthood, and 40 per cent of the respondents plan to start trying for pregnancy between 28 and 32 years,...

When it comes to fertility and reproductive health, male infertility is often ignored but needs serious attention, especially in light of the surge in cases of declining sperm parameters among men aged 25-40, according to health experts. Sperm parameters, measured through semen analysis, evaluate male fertility by assessing aspects like sperm count, motility and morphology, among other factors. Ishaan (name changed), 35, An Andheri-based working professional who got married two years ago, was trying to start a family for over a year with no success. A routine semen analysis revealed zero sperm count. He was diagnosed with obstructive azoospermia — a condition caused by blockage in the sperm-carrying tubes. However, with early intervention and treatment, the couple was able to welcome...

Infant mortality rate (IMR) in the country has touched a record low of 25, a sharp dip of 37.5 per cent from 40 in 2013, according to the Sample Registration System report for 2023 issued by the Registrar General of India. IMR is a key public health indicator defined as number of deaths of children per 1,000 live births under one year -- the lower the number the better the health accessibility. According to the SRS 2023 report, which took into account the data for 2023, IMR has registered a dramatic 80 per cent decline from 129 in 1971. It shows that Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh reported the highest levels of IMR in the country at 37. The lowest was Manipur at 3. Kerala was the only of the 21 large states which reported a single digit IMR of 5. It is second in the coun...

A 39-year-old man from Meerut battling dilated cardiomyopathy got a new lease of life after a donor heart travelled from Chandigarh to the national capital in just an hour and 55 minutes through multiple green corridors. The life-saving transplant was carried out on August 26 at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where doctors replaced the patient`s failing heart with the donor organ. The transportation across two states ensured the heart arrived in optimal condition, significantly improving the chances of success, hospital officials said Wednesday. The patient had been suffering from severe mitral valve leakage and worsening breathing difficulties for the past four years, requiring multiple ICU admissions. After being registered with the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)...

As September marks PCOS Awareness Month, experts have voiced concern over its growing prevalence and impact on women`s health, especially as stigma and lack of awareness delay diagnosis. Globally, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 6-26 per cent of women, and in India, nearly 1 in 5 young women. Despite being among the most common hormonal disorders, it often goes undiagnosed. Alarmingly, nearly 70 per cent of cases remain unidentified, experts said. PCOS is a hormonal disorder causing irregular periods, weight gain, acne, excess hair growth and infertility. Often marked by fluid-filled sacs on the ovaries, it extends beyond reproductive issues, increasing risks of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even endometrial cancer. Dr Yashica Gudesar, Direct...