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Recently, in Bihar over 100 children died due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). Most of these cases were due to hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar levels. Doctors believe that this was due to eating litchi without proper nourishment. A toxin in litchi, MCPG, inhibits glucose formation in the morning. This is an essential pathway for malnourished children to compensate for low blood sugar levels in the morning as they do not have emergency glucose reserve in the liver.

No, eating litchi does not cause encephalitis in children. Recently, in India, acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) led to the deaths of more than 100 children. These deaths were caused due to hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels that were triggered and aggravated by the consumption of litchi and sleeping in empty stomach. Litchi contains the toxin methylene cyclopropyl glycine (MCPG), which blocks the production of glucose by the liver. Therefore, its consumption on an empty stomach by malnourished children leads to fatal hypoglycemia. Litchi by itself does not cause encephalitis or death.

There are a few complications that arise in the treatment of encephalitis. • Encephalitis is generally caused by a viral infection. So antibiotics cannot be given to treat it. • HSV infections can be treated with the use of antiviral drugs. However, no drugs to date can treat arboviral infections. • If encephalitis is caused due to non-viral reasons, the treatment has to change accordingly. The following procedures are followed in the case of a few variants of encephalitis: • Antiviral drugs can be given through IV for two to four weeks if the condition is caused by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). • Alleviation of symptoms is the primary mode of treatment if encephalitis is not caused by HSV. This can include hydration with IV fluids and using paracetamol to treat headaches. It is important to monitor brain swelling during hydration. Diuretics may be needed if the patient has increased intracranial pressure.

Alcoholic liver disease is a condition in which liver is damaged secondary to alcohol intake. The severity of the disease varies and ranges from hepatitis to progressive and end stage liver disease and cirrhosis. Alcohol is the leading cause of fatty liver disease in young and is associated with unhealthy food habits & lifestyle. Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver becomes scarred and the damage is irreversible and the symptoms include: • Jaundice • Hepatitis

Dengue (pronounced as Dengee), is a mosquito-borne disease in many tropical countries. Also known as break-bone fever, the infection can lead to severe flu-like symptoms. The illness is caused by four different kinds of closely related viruses spread by Aedes Mosquitoes. Over 350 million dengue infections occur worldwide with about 90 million resulting in illness. Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes Mosquito. The mosquito becomes infected after it bites the person carrying the dengue virus in their blood. Severe symptoms include Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF). There are currently no vaccinations for the Dengue virus and the best measure one can take is to avoid mosquito bites.

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever can occur when bitten by the Aedes Mosquito or exposed to infected blood. Infected mosquitoes are the most common cause, the goal of the treatment is to manage the symptoms from becoming more severe. If the condition is getting worse, emergency treatments such as hydration with intravenous fluids (IV).To reduce the population of mosquitoes, get rid of anything where mosquitoes can breed such as old tires and flower pots that collect rain.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that is located below Adam’s apple on the lower side of the neck in the body. The problems with the organ can go unnoticed even if it is showing worrying symptoms. Many people do not link the signs with the improper functioning of the thyroid gland and give it more time to get the condition worsen and to take an appropriate treatment. This gland is responsible for producing T3, and T4 hormones and 1-3 in every 50 women are often found to be suffering from a thyroid problem.

When the level of the thyroid hormones dips in the blood, then it is called hypothyroidism. It affects women in higher rates as compared with men and can affect pregnancy too. The causes behind this can be anything, ranging from the autoimmune diseases to the medications taken for the hyperthyroidism, which is to control the higher amount of thyroid hormones in the blood. When other glands in the body do not perform right, even this can lead to this condition. Iodine deficiency is another common reason for stimulating hypothyroidism.

This is a case where the thyroid hormones are produced in abundance, and this causes various malfunctions in the body. In adults who suffer from the autoimmune disease called the Grave’s disease, the body secretes more thyroid hormones as the lookalike TSH antibodies are secreted by the immune system. In case of tumors, body again secretes more TSH leading to this condition. When medications are given to improve thyroid secretion, in case of hypothyroidism, this can yet prove to be adverse if the patient takes a higher dose of medicine. Inflammation of the thyroid gland, called as thyroiditis, can also lead to this problem.