PRASAD Helps Girl with Rare Medical Condition

In February 2007, 11-year-old Nikita Ashok Bhoir, of the Tansa Valley village of Karanjothi, was brought to Gurudev Siddha Peeth Anukampaa Health Center by her mother. For two years, Nikita had been having recurring episodes of abdominal pain. During these episodes, she also would appear to be disoriented and engage in what her mother described as “muttering and irrelevant talk.” She did not have any other complaints or any history of major illness in the past. Nikita’s parents had taken their daughter to many doctors and clinics, and many tests had been performed, but no one could figure out what was wrong or how to treat her symptoms successfully.

The staff at Anukampaa gave Nikita a thorough physical exam and did some tests, but all the reports were normal. The episodes of pain and disoriented talk persisted. Because of the unusual verbal phenomenon that accompanied the episodes, the Anukampaa doctors decided to refer the case to their visiting psychiatrist, Dr. Dinesh Narurkar, when he came from Mumbai in March for his monthly visit.

After evaluating Nikita and talking with her mother, Dr. Narurkar came to the conclusion that the girl had a very rare epileptic condition called abdominal epilepsy. He immediately started her on anti-epileptic medication. At his next visit in April, Nikita was much better – and by his May visit, her symptoms had totally disappeared. She will have to be on the medication for at least three years, and have her condition evaluated periodically, but she otherwise should be able to live a normal, healthy life. Nikita is very happy and relieved to be feeling better, and her parents are grateful to know her care is now in such capable hands.