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"Infections of the
brain are life-threatening and delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to
disability and death," said Dr. Shahid Baig, Professor and Head of Neurology
Section at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). Dr. Baig made this observation
while giving a presentation on 'Meningitis and Other Brain Infections' at 'Signs,
Symptoms and Care', a monthly public health awareness programme, on May 8 in
Karachi.
Emphasising the need for
timely diagnosis, Dr. Baig maintained that 50 per cent of patients "die of meningitis
due to late consultation with the doctor." According to Dr. Baig, fever, neck
pain, headache, nausea and vomiting are amongst the symptoms of meningitis.
"Improvement
in hygiene is the best way to avoid deadly infections because few viral infections
of the brain are treatable with drugs," advised Dr. Baig.
"Half
the patients who survive meningitis could potentially be disabled for life.
Common disabilities caused by meningitis are hearing loss in children and adults,
inability to walk, paralysis of the arm or leg and mental retardation," concluded
Dr. Baig.
The speaker
and the panellists, which included Dr. Saad Shafqat, Dr. Mughis Sheerani, Dr.
Bhojo Asumal and Dr. Mohammad Wasay, participated in the question-and-answer
session at the end of the programme.
AKUH
provides high-quality services to all segments of the population, with over
70 per cent of patients coming from low- to middle-income areas.
Since the inception of the
Hospital's Patient Welfare Programme in 1986, Rs. 1.05 billion has been spent
on more than 203,000 needy patients. In addition, The Patients Behbud Society
for AKUH receives zakat contributions and disburses them to the needy or mustahaqeen.
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