This story is from July 5, 2015

10-yr-old has rare syndrome, in induced coma for a month

When 10-year-old Mitul Shah got fever on May 29, his parents weren’t unduly alarmed as it subsided with medication in two days. But, on the sixth day, Mitul started convulsing – and, a month later, the `fits’ haven’t stopped.
10-yr-old has rare syndrome, in induced coma for a month
MUMBAI: When 10-year-old Mitul Shah got fever on May 29, his parents weren’t unduly alarmed as it subsided with medication in two days. But, on the sixth day, Mitul started convulsing – and, a month later, the `fits’ haven’t stopped.
The medical bills are galloping – over Rs 11 lakh already– prompting Mitul’s Holy Angels school in Dombivli to start a donation drive.

His father Viren, who works with a chemical exporter, is busy running between Hinduja Hospital, Mahim, where Mitul was admitted on June 5, and the homes of friends to collect donation cheques.
Mitul’s condition – called FIRES (febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome) -- has an incidence of 1 among a million people. It affects normal children who have had no history of any neurological disease, has no apparent cause and has a high fatality rate.
''The suddenness has left us shocked,’’ said Viren. Reeba Jai, a parent from Holy Angels School who is helping with the donation drive, said, ``When we met the parents recently, they cried more than talked. It has been a bolt out of the blue.’’
Mitul, who is an avid sports enthusiast, was so normal that he went down to play with his friends after his fever bout. ``On June 1 and 2, he was excessively sleepy and weak. On June 3, he convulsed after brushing his teeth,’’ his father Viren said. The child was taken to a nursing home but the seizures couldn’t be controlled. ``We went to a hospital in Vashi which directed us to Hinduja Hospital,’’ he added.

MRI scans and tests revealed nothing. ``We arrived at the FIRES diagnosis by excluding other conditions,’’ said pediatric neurologist Dr Vrajesh Udani, who is treating Mitul. His team has treated 20 cases in the last six to eight years.
``We have kept him in a state of induced coma. The convulsions can’t be seen physically but the 24x7 brain scans show us the hectic brain activity,’’ said the doctor, adding that Mitul once suffered continuous convulsions for an hour..
``The child was brought to us early and we have been able to control the severity of the convulsions with medicines. It is too early to say much but he is better than before,’’ he said.
The medicines have to be constantly changed as they are too strong for the young one. ``The medicines and ICU care are expensive, costing up to Rs 40,000 every day,’’ said the child’s parents.
Bijoy Oomen, the principal of Holy Angels School in Dombivli where Mitul studies, said that cheques and cash donations had already started coming in.
Cheques can be made in the name of P D Hinduja National Hospital & Medical Research Centre with Mitul’s name written on the back along with the donor's name and contact number.
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