After 150 tests, 20 docs can’t say what ails man Man in Lilavati hosp, whose multiple organ failure docs failed to diagnose, finally starts responding to treatment

After 150 tests, 20 docs can’t say what ails man

Man in Lilavati hosp, whose multiple organ failure docs failed to diagnose, finally starts responding to treatment

More than 20 doctors and over 150 tests have failed to arrive at the reasons for the multiple organ failure and acute respiratory disorder in a 27-year-old man. The Bandra resident has been in the ICU of Lilavati hospital for the past three weeks. Firdos Ali Hashmi was admitted on March 27 with high grade fever and acute respiratory problem. Chest physician Dr Jalil Parker said, “When he was brought to us, he had weak respiratory muscles. We had to intubate him. His lungs had become stiff too and the x-ray was milky white.” According to the doctors, their initial suspicion was dengue or a community-acquired pneumonia. “We did all possible tests and soon ruled out that he is not suffering from dengue, malaria, leptospirosis, viral or community-acquired pneumonia,” said Parker. Meanwhile, Hashmi was given an aggressive medical management that covered all the above diseases. “He started showing improvement and, on April 2, we removed him from artificial ventilator support but his condition deteriorated again and he suffered from multiple organ failure. So, we had to put him back on the ventilator,” said Parker. He added that Hashmi’s platelet count and haemoglobin level dropped, while his white blood cells count went up alarmingly. It was during this time the team of doctors, which included a haematologist, intensivist, nephrologist and gastroenterologist, conducted a battery of tests for the rarest of rare diseases like antavirus, parvo virus, acinetobacter, and all kinds of fungal infections. “We even ruled out tuberculosis and HIV. We did specific tests to identify specific bacteria, virus and fungus. When everything failed, we simply went for broad spectrum antibiotics and supportive treatment for maintaining his platelet count. Thankfully, he is responding to the treatment now and has been off ventilator for the past three days,” said Parker. Hashmi’s family members said the hospital bill has gone above Rs10 lakh but the hospital authorities have been doing their best to provide them with monetary assistance.