Jaundice has versions that could potentially kill scores of people. The good news, however, is that it can be prevented, and it can be treated, if detected early, Dr Patta Radhakrishna tells our writer Shali Ittaman.
20 April 2022
SIMS Hospital, Chennai
It is strange what all people do when Jaundice, also known as Hepatitis, afflicts them.
To have a view, run a search on the web. It would probably throw up forms of cures ranging from the laughable to the ridiculous. Yet, for generations, people have vested in such kinds of unscientific remedies.
In and around Chennai, the city where gastroenterologist surgeon Dr. Patta Radhakrishna practices, it is common to see people queuing outside houses where concoctions to purportedly cure jaundice are served. The portions are mostly crushed leaves made to pass off as medicine.
It is not, however, a story exclusive to Chennai. Quack remedies for Jaundice are available all over the country.
“It is a hoax. People are falling prey to it,” says Dr Patta. “Patients don’t realize that Hepatitis A, the commonest form of jaundice found in India, cures itself in a week. It is no attribute of the ‘magic portion’ given to them.”
The trouble, he warns, is for people, who, instead of Hepatitis A, fall to Hepatitis B or C. If left undetected and untreated, they could kill. Furthermore — given their infectious nature — they could race through the community like it were nobody’s business.
Hepatitis B and C are common causes for cancer of the liver, the gallbladder, the pancreas and the bile duct. Once the cancer is triggered, the only chance for the patient would be to get to a gastroenterologist surgeon early. Without the surgeon’s timely help, death would quickly follow.
The greater danger, however, is from Hepatitis B and C lurking undetected in people. It requires a lab report to ascertain the nature of the jaundice, and to start a suitable treatment. In the absence of the report, and without appropriate treatment, the patient would continue to harbor the disease-causing-virus, which experts say, is far more virulent than the virus causing AIDS. Anything from the saliva of the infected, to his blood or sexual discharge, could cause a contagion.
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There are now vaccines available against jaundice. It is one of the essentials now on the infant immunization check list encouraged by the government. But that is only half the job done. Like with the Pulse Polio programmed, vaccination against jaundice must also cross the social barrier against it.
The optimism, according to Dr Patta, is that jaundice is a preventable disease. Everything, from vaccination to testing labs to treatment options, is in place to stop it. Now it is on the common Indian to make up his mind on availing it.
(Shali Ittaman has been an editor at Times of India, at Hindustan Times and at the Press Trust of India. Copy written for the Features Division of Guru Daksha Consultancy Services).
Contact Us
Contact Person : Dr. Patta Radhakrishna
Address :SIMS Hospital - Vadapalani, Chennai
(Next to Vadapalani Metro Station)
No.1, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai
(100 Feet Road), Vadapalani
Chennai – 600 026, Tamilnadu, India
