Kerala Liver specialist with 17 years of experience fails to identify disease; Maid diagnoses it in 10 seconds

New Delhi: A seasoned Kerala-based hepatologist, Cyriac Abby Philips, recently found himself perplexed over a family member's illness, despite his medical expertise and extensive tests. The breakthrough diagnosis came from an unexpected source: his elderly maid. Dr Philips, widely recognised as 'The Liver Doc' on social media, faced a challenging situation. His adult family member experienced persistent low-grade fever, chills, fatigue, arthritis, and an unusual rash. "I tested everything from viral hepatitis to COVID-19 to influensa and dengue and Epstein-Barr Virus, and nothing came back positive, and it was frustrating," he shared on X.

Understanding Fifth Disease

As Dr Philips delved into medical literature for answers, his maid offered a crucial observation. "My elderly maid comes in and tells me she has seen this rash in her grandchildren and it's called 'Anjaampani' in the local language (5th Disease) and I don't have to worry and got checked for Parvovirus B19 and it came positive," he wrote. "17 years of medical school and a Harrisons on my lap and my elderly maid got it in like 10 seconds."

Understanding Fifth Disease

According to Medline Plus, fifth disease, or erythema infectiosum, is caused by human parvovirus B19 and primarily affects children. It spreads through respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes of an infected person. The distinctive symptom is a bright-red rash on the cheeks, often termed "slapped cheek syndrome," which can extend to other parts of the body and may include additional symptoms.

When questioned by social media users about not consulting a general practitioner, Dr Philips responded, "People do not understand that most times, nowadays, a 'GP' is not the GP that we expect these days. Half my time in outpatient is spent deprescribing medications unnecessarily given by so-called GPs and specialists. It is easy to virtue signal on social media, but the reality is far different. For me, the maid's diagnosis was extremely valuable and I did not have to take a day off to see a 'GP'."

Earlier this year, Dr Philips garnered attention for his swift action in saving a man's life during an Akasa Air flight from Kochi to Mumbai. He is also renowned for his efforts in debunking myths related to alternative medicine.