For Yuvika’s parents the last few months have been the toughest. But as they say that every black cloud has a silver lining, today Yuvika is healthy and looking at a positive future. Misdiagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) and suffering from chronic cough and breathlessness, Yuvika has gone a lot in the last few months. The daughter of Dr SN Dev, the Madhubani resident felt helpless when her daughter’s condition kept on deteriorating. “She used to complain of pain in the right chest side while coughing or playing. I tried to cure her through some basic medication, but nothing was improving her condition. Some tests revealed that she has TB. This news was difficult for the entire family,” shares Dr Dev, Yuvika’s father.
The anti tuberculosis drugs also gave her no relief, in fact her situation started to become more complicated. She lost her appetite, started losing weight and became fragile. Her blood pressure, haemoglobin dropped down and she started to feel weak.
Post discussion with friends from the medical fraternity, Dr Manmohan, Sr Consultant and HOD CTVS was recommended. The family consulted the doctor and a thorough investigation, it was revealed that Yuvika was suffering from – Pleural Effusion. It is a medical condition in which fluid accumulates in the space between the layers of pleura- thin membrane that lines the surface of the lungs and the inside of the chest wall outside the lungs. Normally, only teaspoons of watery fluid are present in the pleural space, allowing the lungs to move smoothly within the chest cavity during breathing. However any extra collection hampers breathing and affects the heart.
According to Dr Manmohan, “In Yuvika’s case the fluid was thick pus. There was around 5-6 kgs of pus in the lungs and the same was pushing in the abdominal cavity. This pus was also pressing the heart towards the left. Due to this the right lung had collapsed and was not functioning. The delay in the right treatment was the reason of this complication. We planned to extract the pus carefully and release the lung and the heart that has been entrapped with the same.”
Dr Manmohan further states, “In some cases of cough and cold there are chances of pleural effusion. These cases should be treated with proper antibiotics and critical care support. Also if needed the fluid should be taken out with expertise, because these fluids have a tendency to become thick very soon. If this fluid is not extracted at the right time, the removal of the thick fluid would need surgical treatment. Even the surgery has to be timed, otherwise the lungs would remain nonfunctional. Numerous patients have been misdiagnosed with TB and just late treatment for simple cough and cold pushes patients towards surgery.”
Post a successful surgery, Yuvika today is healthy. Her cough is gone and so hasthe heavy painful feeling in her chest. “It is like she can breathe freely. Thanks to Paras I have got my daughter back. We are thankful to Paras for bringing expert medical care to Bihar. Numerous misdiagnosed and mistreated patients can now get the care that they deserve,” shares Yuvika’s father.
