Mr Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, a common looking
man, is no longer a common man. He has climbed roles from a devastated patient of
Hepatitis B for 8 years to a hero who has cleared the infection and now to an
activist guiding others to prevent and treat this deadly infection. And who can
be more convincing than him to tell what it entails being a patient?
The ground under his feet had shaken 8 years ago
when he, along with his friends, had gone for a screening blood examination in
2004 and tested positive for Hepatitis B. Although he worked in a laboratory as
a technician, he did not remember any accidental exposure to blood or blood
products. He had never had jaundice, and had felt perfectly fine till this test
had robbed his bliss. In disbelief, he got the test repeated from 3 labs. All
were unfortunately positive!
Advice kept pouring freely in. Some wondered how
he was still alive, others said that there was no treatment and he was doomed
to die, while many suggested going for alternative medicines. He was worried
about his wife and small children and wondered how much time he had with them.
He however decided not to give in but to fight
back. He took the long crowded road to SGPGI and after 5 hours of wait in the
claustrophobic OPD hall, confronted me with the question “ Is it treatable?”
Further tests revealed that his infection was not
a mild one; the Hepatitis B virus was actively multiplying in his liver, and
the viral load in the blood was in millions. Considerable damage had already occured, and elevated levels of the liver enzymes SGOT and SGPT indicated that
liver cells were still dying.
Having understood that the treatment had to be
long, he started with oral anti-viral medications. The response was impressive;
within 6 months, his liver functions had normalized and the viral load had come
down significantly.
He attended our liver clinic with determined
regularity. We watched his tests improve with each 6 monthly visit. His
envelope antigen, a marker for viral multiplication, turned negative in 3
years, his liver functions improved to normal levels and he started getting the
feeling that he may not die soon afterall.
He learnt much about Hepatitis B, attending all
our seminars and film shows regularly. Convinced that he was indeed getting
better, he joined the HOPE team in our yearly World Hepatitis Day functions on
July 28 over the last few years, voluntarily lending his hands in the free
screening camps, rallies and road shows.
God was probably watching. This year he greeted
me with a grin when his HBsAg, the last marker of infection also turned
negative. “Am I now cured for life?” he asked with baited breath. He was
honoured this year as a champion and a hero who had fought and overcome this
infection with grit and perseverance.
As published in HT City ( Hindustan Times) dated 29th July, 2012.
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