Karnataka - Hassan   

His case is a challenge to doctors

Shantaraju

HASSAN: For the former State volleyball player Shantaraju (49), who is suffering from congenital lympadima, there seems to be no hope.

Mr. Shantaraju’s left leg weighs 58 kg and the right 40 kg.

Mr. Shantaraju who hails from Lalanakere village in Gandsi hobli of Arsikere taluk in Hassan district was a normal person till the age of 18. He was a State-level volleyball player (high school category). He represented Karnataka in inter-State competitions.

While he was in tenth standard, he woke up one day to see his legs swollen. He thought that it was because of an insect bite. He took treatment from doctors at Arsikere and he became normal. But his happiness was short lived. After six months, the problem surfaced again.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Shantaraju said his parents took him to Manipal for treatment.

Although the problem looked like elephantiasis, it was not. It was diagnosed as congenital lympadima and he was operated upon. The cost of treatment came to Rs. 6 lakh, but even after the surgery there was no improvement in his condition.Mr. Shantaraju said he did not marry because of his problem, and his parents are dead.

His brothers are living separately. He cannot walk even a few steps and there is no one to look after him.He came here to consult doctors at the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences.

Former president of the Karnataka State Physicians’ Association Tekur Ramanath said that this was a congenital disease.

It was a rare disease and treatment was possible in the initial stage only. District Surgeon Dr. Prem Kumar, who examined Mr. Shantaraju, also felt that there was no permanent cure for the disease.

Through plastic surgery, the additional flesh could be removed. But the problem would surface once again, he felt.

Mr. Shantaraju’s case has become a challenge to the medical fraternity.

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