Jammu, Dec 12: An unnecessary hype is being created in a section of the media over the alleged rise in hereditary angioedema cases in the Jammu region, thereby causing panic among the people. This is what the doctors, especially dermatologists here believe over “unverified reports” on hereditary angioedema disease, a potentially life-threatening genetic skin disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of severe swelling underneath the skin.
Some media reports have claimed that there has been a rise in the number of hereditary angioedema patients in some villages of Jammu including Kathad, Jedi, Trujja, and Sogal areas of the Akhnoor and Seela areas of the Reasi district.
Dermatologists, however, claim that no new research has been carried out on this subject. “So, creating a panic by relying on previous research is highly unethical on part of the media,” Dr Mashkoor Ahmed Wani, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Government Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital, Jammu, told Rising Kashmir.
According to Wani, research was carried out earlier in March this year by a team of PGI Chandigarh by testing some blood samples of patients from the Reasi district. Some of the tests, according to him, tested positive.
“Thereafter, some research might have been carried out on this subject, and samples been tested by the team of experts for creating medicines and other research material for future generations. But we cannot say that the disease has been an epidemic or spread to an extent beyond control,” he said, while claiming, “Even the team of PGI experts should refrain from sharing the research details with the media as it causes panic in the society at large.”
Dr Wani said that patients with normal symptoms of the disease are being screened and treated at the hospital on a routine basis.
Principal Government Medical College Jammu, Dr Shashi Sudan Sharma also claimed that no patient with angioedema is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
She said, “I have also heard about the spread of the disease from some people in PGI Chandigarh but no patient is being treated at GMC Jammu.”
She rather said that patients with Type-1 hypersensitivity are being treated in the hospital.
“But they’re not suffering from angioneurotic edema,” she said.
