Tag: Dr Pavan Pai

Health

81-year-old woman with Parkinson successfully treated at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road Amid Pandemic

Apr 17, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Dr Pavan Pai, #Mira Road, #Neurologist, #Wockhardt Hospital

Mumbai: A team headed by Dr. Pavan Pai, Neurologist, Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road successfully treated an 81-year-old woman with Parkinson’s. The patient who was unable to do her daily activities with ease has resumed her normal routine.

Life was smooth until the patient Mrs. Aruna Modi a resident of Mira Road, suddenly encountered problems with movement and suffered from a urine infection, a year ago. She suddenly lost interest in her real-world activities like bathing and avoided getting involved in family discussions. She would remain aloof and later required support for performing daily chores. Her worried family members assumed that she is depressed and took her to various medicos but nothing helped. However, the patient was brought to Neurology OPD at Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road in August 2020, wherein she was able to get back on track.

Dr. Pavan Pai, Neurologist, Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road, highlighted, “On arrival, a series of tests like MRI confirmed that the patient suffered from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) type of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a long-term, degenerative, neurological disease that leads to the loss of control over some body functions. It causes slowing of movement, shaking, difficulty in moving the eyes, dull facial expressions, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination in people. It predominately takes a toll on the dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain known as substantia nigra. As the disease progresses, one may have difficulty walking and talking, and advanced age is the risk factor for the occurrence of Parkinson’s.”

Dr Pai added, “The patient was immediately started on dopamine replacement therapy. After a week, the dosage of the medication was increased and she improved a lot. In the 1st week of September 2020, the patient started walking without the support and resumed her daily routine. She started having conversations with people and even played cards. Around 12% of patients visiting me on a daily basis have Parkinson’s disease. Timely intervention is key to manage the disease. On follow-up after 8 months, the patient is not only leading a normal life but also started performing activities like cooking which she enjoyed doing earlier.”

“I was shattered and lost interest in day-to-day life. First, I thought it is depression but prompt diagnosis at Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road confirmed it is Parkinson’s disease. If you are above 60 and suddenly lose interest in daily activities then get yourself checked before the condition worsens. I thank the doctors for giving me a new lease of life” concluded patient Mrs. Aruna Modi.

Box

Watch out for these symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

  • Tremor (trembling) in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
  • Limb stiffness
  • Slowness of movement
  • Impaired balance and posture
  • Swallowing problem
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Dull facial expressions
  • Changes in speech and writing
Health

A 47-Year-Old Palghar Woman with Rare COVID‐19 Associated Encephalitis Successfully Recovered at Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road

Oct 19, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Dr Pavan Pai, #Encephalitis, #Shaista Pathan, #Wockhardt Hospital

A team headed by Dr Pavan Pai, a Neurologist at Wockhardt Hospital Mira Road, successfully treated a critically ill 47-year-old woman with altered sensorium like impaired consciousness, central nervous system (CNS) related symptoms, delirium, brain inflammation, viral meningitis is a rare manifestation of COVID‐19 associated encephalitis. COVID‐19 not only affects respiratory health. Lately, severe neurological complications, like encephalitis, Guillain‐Barré syndrome, and stroke has also been reported in some patients.

Shaista Pathan, a resident of Palghar, a housewife, suddenly became confused, complained of abdominal pain and headache. The patient was taken to a local hospital that administered pain killers to her on 13 August. Still, the pain persisted and her condition deteriorated further. However, the patient was referred to Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road, wherein her life was saved.

Dr Pavan Pai, a Neurologist at Wockhardt Hospital Mira Road, explained, “On admission, the patient presented with altered sensorium, delirium, confusion, fluctuating consciousness, agitated behaviour, fever and abdominal pain on August 14. There was no medical, infectious, or behavioural prodrome in past but had a contact history with her cousin who also had similar symptoms and was tested COVID positive at another hospital. A CT scan of the abdomen, chest, and brain was performed before admitting her to the COVID suspect ICU as her antigen test was negative. Her blood reports were normal.

On August 15, an MRI brain was done that showed no bleeding or blood clot in the brain. She had neck stiffness and it was suggesting towards CNS infection but she was not allowing to perform CSF analysis to confirm it due to her agitated behaviour. She was given medications to manage meningitis and calm down. A COVID swab test was done and she was positive. The patient was presumed to have COVID‐19 associated encephalitis and shifted in the COVID ICU.”

The common clinical features of COVID‐19 are cough, shortness of breath, and fever. Lately, COVID‐19 related severe neurological complications, like encephalitis, Guillain‐Barré syndrome, skeletal muscle involvement, and stroke have also been reported. Encephalitis is an acute inflammatory condition of the brain characterized by fever, delirium, and altered consciousness is seen in critically ill patients.

“The patient was treated with antivirals, antiepileptic drug, antibiotics, steroids, and brain edema reduction drugs, to treat the brain infection and help her gain her senses. On 17th August evening patient recovered, recollected everything, spoke to her relatives, and even ate food on her own. On August 19, her CSF confirmed viral meningitis. She recovered completely, was discharged on August 22, and was sent for a week mandatory quarantine at home,” said Dr Pai.

“I am fortunate to have received prompt and timely treatment at Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road as I didn’t recollect things after I got infected as it took a toll on my functioning of the brain. But now I have gained my senses back. I thank doctors for giving me a new lease of life,” concluded patient Shaista Pathan.