Date:12/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/12/stories/2007071256130300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

A word of caution on chest diseases

Correspondent

Kakinada: There has been spurt in chest diseases, of late, mainly due to new infections caused by parasites such as Toxoplosmosis and Babesiosis, according to M. Raghavendra Rao, professor of chest diseases, Rangaraya Medical College.

At a press conference here on Wednesday, he said such infections, which were more common in United States, especially among the HIV positives, were now found here also. He said the parasitic infections were causing pulmonary odema, some times proving fatal.

Dr. Raghavendra Rao, who is the recipient of gold medal for his oration on ‘parasitic diseases of the lung’ at the just-concluded 30th State conference of TB and Chest Diseases Doctors’ Association in Rajahmundry, said that water and air pollution, besides food contamination were the major source of infections. He advised people to prevent these infections by observing hygiene in all matters. Even walking by barefoot also might spread the parasitic diseases fast, he remarked. Earlier at a function held on the college premises, principal S. Rajkumar complimented him for achieving the unique distinction of being the youngest doctor with two decades of experience to receive the gold medal.