Madurai: 2-year-old with rare auto-immune disease recovers at Government Rajaji Hospital

MADURAI: A two-year-old boy, suffering from a rare auto-immune disease affecting his nervous system, has recovered after surviving months on ventilator support at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai.

The boy, Vigneshwaran R, from Anna Nagar in Madurai, was admitted to the GRH’s pediatric ward on May 24 last year after the boy went into a sudden full-body paralysis. He was diagnosed with the Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), an auto-immune disorder which results in rapid-onset of muscle weakness caused damage of the peripheral nervous system by the immune system.

Initially, doctors from the pediatrics dept treated Vigneshwaran with Immunoglobulin and Methyl Prednisolone after which the boy suffered breathing difficulties. For seven months, he was put on ventilator. “The boy was prone to infection and complications being on mechanical ventilation, but our pediatric team successfully ensured his gradual recovery. It is not an easy feat to keep a 2-year-old child on ventilator support for seven months,” said GRH Dean Dr Sangumani J. Treatment through administration of antibiotics, chest physiotherapy and nutritional support were also provided. After eight months of treatment Vigneshwaran has fully recovered and is able to walk with support and consume food. He is set to be discharged on Wednesday. The treatmentwhich could have otherwise cost up to Rs 1.5 crore in a private hospital was done free of cost for the child, under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.