One cannot imagine how rapidly people have progressed in recent times. There is rarely any field where one can get stuck. Be it in medical sciences or transportation or modern machinery, there is rarely any field we have not conquered. Everything is at the fingertips of a person. Whether you need medicines or grocery or your car needs to be repaired, just dial a number or book it on the internet! Everything is so easy. We may have excelled almost in every field but I still feel, rather I have experienced, that we are way behind in one of the most important fields, education. I was strolling along the narrow, patchy road of my village when I met an elderly neighbour after a long time. He was happy to see me. He greeted me with a wide smile. After a general chit-chat about family, health and a few other things, the conversation jumped over to education, a sector towards which our society is one dimensional. He asked me what I was doing nowadays. I said I’m doing Honors in English Literature, as it is. He was suddenly distraught! The wide grin on his face turned into an ugly frown within no time. What followed is the funniest line I’ve been hearing time and again. “You were a bright student, I remember. Why did you choose this subject? Why did not you apply for NEET?” Another instance I remember is a telephonic conversation with one of my cousins. She told me that I had the potential but did not work hard. I asked her how come I did not work hard. I further told her that I am pursuing a degree in English Literature and I have plans to study further and excel in the subject. Her answer was similar to the neighbour’s statement. She said, “You did not apply for NEET!” NEET, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, is one of the key competitive examinations of the country. It demands a lot of hard work, dedication and grit to qualify this examination. It produces doctors, the saviours, the heroes, who have an immense contribution towards the society. There is no doubt about the fact that qualifying NEET is a big achievement, but what we forget most of the times is that there are other subjects and competitive examinations to be pursued, which are equally valuable. A family is not run by a single person. Every member of a family contributes towards its development and growth, and every member holds his own significance and value in the family. Similarly, every profession holds an important significance in this huge family. Doctors hold their own value, so do businessmen, writers, sports-persons, engineers, drivers, teachers and every other profession of the world.
Many careers have ended even before taking off! So, a message that I would like to pass to the parents too that do not force your children to go for a particular course that you’re interested in. This pressure and force often leads to depression and an increase in suicide rate.
The reason why I mentioned earlier that our society has a one dimensional approach towards the educational sector is that most of the people here think that if a student doesn’t opt to go for this competitive examination after completing schooling, then he or she is not capable of studying at all, let alone finding a “respectable” job. I remember, as kids, when we were asked about our aim in life, most of us would say that I want to become a doctor. Little did we know that our society will take this too seriously! The message to the students is that taking the advice of parents and elders is a good thing. They never take bad decisions about your career and life. Their intentions are always pure. But at the same time, you have to take your own self’s advice too. You have to ask yourselves these questions- If I take up a particular subject, am I doing justice to myself. Even if I excel in this subject, will I be a happy person or a successful yet unhappy person? Thousands of young students have fallen prey to this one dimensional approach. Many careers have ended even before taking off! So, a message that I would like to pass to the parents too that do not force your children to go for a particular course that you’re interested in. This pressure and force often leads to depression and an increase in suicide rate. Save your children from depression. Let them choose a subject they are good at and a subject they love by heart. If one wants to be a doctor let him/her be a writer, let him/her be, an engineer, let him/her be. Let them be their true selves! I’m sure that this approach will shape their careers and they will not only become great poets, writers, sports-persons, doctors, engineers but good human beings too.
(The author is a student of English Literature at Cluster University Srinagar, Kashmir. Views are his own)
Extra pulmonary TB affecting spinal cord can be life threatening
Dr. Satnam Singh Chhabra
It is a common notion that tuberculosis affects the pulmonary system (lungs), but very few people are aware that the life-threatening ailment is also known to affect other parts of the body than the lungs alone. As per the recent medical statistics, around 12-15% of the total TB patients in India suffer from some form of extra pulmonary TB, that particularly affect their bones and spinal cord. The cases of tuberculosis of the spinal cord are constantly on rise which can be attributed to ignorance about the dreaded spread of the bacterium to the bones also. Also known as disseminated tuberculosis, this ailment usually affects the end of long bones and the vertebrae are the most common sites. Irrespective of the strata, age and gender, the risk of spread of bone TB is equal. Having a tendency to affect any bone in the body, the most common sites include the spine and weight bearing joints like hands, wrists, knee and elbows. Depending on the exact location, the pain may vary from on and off to excruciating to severe. In fact, if we talk about numbers, India is home to about one lakh people who suffer from osteoarticular tuberculosis which leads to limb shortening in growing children and full body paralysis in a few cases.
Spinal TB is often misdiagnosed! Spinal TB also known as Pott’s disease usually affects the thoracic part of the spine and can often be mistaken for Arthritis, when trying to diagnose in its early stages. Since the patients with TB in their bones might or might not exhibit generalized signs of pulmonary tuberculosis such as fever, fatigue, night sweats and unexplained weight loss, it becomes less suspicious. Although about half of all patients with bone TB also have infected lungs, the disease usually is not active there which also means that most patients with bone TB do not suffer from coughing. At times it may take years to start showing its initial symptoms. When a person is affected by tuberculosis of the joints, it progressively destroys the joints at the hips or knees. Doctors refer to the condition as “mono-arthritis” because only one joint is affected. The affected joint swells and becomes painful. With the result there is stiffness in movement and range of motion becomes limited. In severe and chronic cases, abscesses develop in the affected joints. Patients with Spinal TB undergo constant and unbearable back pain as the bacteria degrades the joints causing stiffness, which is similar to the arthritic pain. But as a major differentiating factor, most patients of arthritis experience relief at night when lying down, whereas for those suffering from bone TB, lying flat increases discomfort due to increased bacterial activity. Thus, a patient must be aware of the nature of pain caused in case of spinal TB to be distinguishing it from Arthritic pain. Diagnosis of the disease is done by X-ray and lab tests on fluid aspirated from the affected joint area. While in case of spine and skeletal TB, diagnosis is to be done with the help of CT Scans and MRI reports. Delaying in getting the right treatment option can lead to the spread of the spinal TB from one vertebra to the other thereby gradually weakening the bones and destroying the cushioning discs between them. In severe cases, the spine can collapse and compress the spinal cord, causing paralysis of the lower body. And if spinal TB progresses to destruction of the vertebrae and discs, the bones of the spine jut forward and form a hump. Spinal TB is severe because if not detected and treated in time, the disease can cause severe paralysis which may take years to get cured.
While TB usually affects the lungs, it can also infect other parts of the body including the spine, brain and kidney. If proper medical attention is not received, TB can be fatal
Spinal TB is curable: Since the Spinal TB has the tendency to affect the bone marrow, it is important to undergo timely treatment and follow the complete course. Depending on the severity and location of the TB, the treatment duration may vary. But unlike the treatment for pulmonary TB, treatment for spinal TB may last for at least one year. In severe cases of spinal TB leading to paralysis, the treatment and recovery period solely depends on the severity of paralysis. The TB patients are “strictly” advised to complete the medication course and never to leave it in between, without consulting their doctor. It’s important for patients to understand that TB is curable if it is timely detected and treated well. In case of Bone TB, bed rest, good diet, medicines and physiotherapy can help you get back to normal life. Always remember, while TB usually affects the lungs, it can also infect other parts of the body including the spine, brain and kidney. If proper medical attention is not received, TB can be fatal.
(The author is Head Neuro and Spine department, Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi. Views are his own)
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