Dr Omi bids adieu

Dr Omi bids adieu
Diagnosed with shingles, doctors say that stress could be the cause of his premature demise.

Sanjit Bedi, who was in his late 30s, and popularly known as Dr Omi in the hit TV show Sanjivani, died in Bombay Hospital on June 23. The actor was suffering from shingles. He had been hospitalised for the last two months. He is survived by his wife.

Those with low immunity are most susceptible to shingles. Their erratic sleeping and eating patterns and the pressure of deadlines, makes TV stars vulnerable.

Dr Nirmal Surya , senior neurologist at the Bombay Hospital, explained, “Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox, the virus remains in the nerve tissues. As you get older or after an illness or if you are under severe stress, the virus may reappear as shingles. Delay in treatment can affect the brain. The patient can develop encephalitis, a serious condition causing inflammation of the brain and may go into coma. I have seen many patients who have no serious illness but have a history of stress develop this infection.”

Karanvir Bohra who has known Sanjit since their Kasautii Zindagii Kay days remembers him as always full of life. "Though he was diagonised with shingles a few months ago, he was on the road to recovery. May be because of low immunity he suddenly suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. He was in induced coma for four weeks," he informs.

Sanjit’s last rites took place at Chandanwadi crematorium in Mumbai. “Sanjit was always happy and smiling. After a few weeks his friends and family have been planning a small get together to celebrate his being,” adds Karanvir.