Hyderabad: Niloufer, Osmania make ailing teen run around

Hyderabad: Fourteen-year-old Shoaib Khan from Borabanda is being made to run from Niloufer Hospital to Osmania General Hospital for the last two days for neuro-cognitive impairment. It was later diagnosed at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital as a case of HIV associated neurocognitive disorder.

The boy lives with his grandmother, Sajida Begum, after the death of his parents. For the last two days, they have been shuttling between the two state-run hospitals for diagnosis and treatment. Two days ago, when they went to OGH, the boy had 104ºF temperature and was in a semi-conscious state but was given medicines and asked to go.

Mr Mujtaba Askari, who has volunteers in the government hospital, said, “The child was in a semi-conscious state and could not be taken by his grandmother who sat down in the premises of the hospital. We found her waiting for him to gain consciousness.”

Ms Sajida Begum said, “He has been suffering for two years. Last year, Niloufer Hospital admitted him as he was 13-years-old but now they are not willing to take him as he is 14, They sent us to this hospital where they did not examine him at all.”

The neurology out-patient department at NIMS examined him and found it to be a case of severe infection. They carried out an HIV test which came out positive.
The doctors said it was an HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder which leads to mood swings, loss of memory and inability to handle daily work. A senior doctor at NIMS on condition of anonymity said, “The disease is at an initial stage and proper follow-up will help.”