1,000 sq.ft. building for Rheumatology Out-patient at CMC
Rheumatology wing moves into bigger space at CMC HospitalCoimbatore:The Rheumatology Out-patient Wing of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital moved into a 1,000 sq.ft. building.This is to meet the rise in the number of patients who are being provided with both treatment and counselling on how to manage problems such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Dean of the hospital T.P. Kalaniti said after opening the wing that the hospital now had 35,000 patients enrolled for treatment. "We also get 20 to 30 patients every day," he said, pointing out to the need for a larger building. "This wing has been functioning for the last six months. But, we needed more space because of a rise in the number patients. It had increased with people coming to know of such a facility available in a Government hospital."
Dr. Kalaniti said patients had to be treated for systemic lupus erythematosis, which was a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder. Patients also suffered from scleroderma - a condition wherein the skin becomes thick and tethered to the underlying tissue. When it hardened, the movement in the joints was lost. Some people could not even open their mouth because of this problem. Systemic lupus erythematosis affected the skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs. Normally, the immune system controlled the body's defences against infection. This disease turned the defences against the body and rogue immune cells attacked tissues. Antibodies that could react against the body's blood cells, organs, and tissues might also be produced.
These led to immune cells attacking the affected systems and causing a chronic (long-term) disease. Almost all people with this problem developed arthritis. Frequently affected joints were in the fingers, hands, wrists and knees. Degeneration or even death of bone tissue could occur in the hips and shoulders. This was often the cause of pain in those areas. A `butterfly' rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose affected about half of those with this problem. The rash was worsened by sunlight.
The Dean said that almost all the patients would end up with kidney failure, if early detection and treatment could not be done. These patients should not be provided with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (pain killers) that could harm the kidneys. "The connection is clear - the pain in the joints will lead to consuming pain killers," the Dean pointed out. This autoimmune disease could also affect the heart and lungs. Inflammation in these areas led to fluid collection.
Dr. Kalaniti said about 20 per cent to 25 per cent of patients with rheumatological diseases were prone to thyroid problem. The wing at the hospital had facilities to test thyroid functions. Counselling and physiotherapy training would also be provided to the patients. "They need to manage the disease, especially those who wake up with a severe joint pain that can last for an hour."
The Dean said the master health check wing of the hospital had a flow of 730 patients a month now. "After it was opened in January 2005, it had only six patients a month for sometime. Now, it is popular because all the tests that cost Rs. 3,000 (as a package) in private hospitals are offered here for just Rs. 250. This includes a mammography for women."
