Golu Rajbhar hails from UP and is not eligible for Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. (Source: Express Photo) Golu Rajbhar hails from UP and is not eligible for Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. (Source: Express Photo)

Battling a severe form of spinal tuberculosis, a five-year-old boy, son of a handcart-puller, has lost eight vertebrae in his spinal column after they started dissolving. His parents are now seeking funds for a spinal surgery even as the first line treatment for tuberculosis was initiated last month. Doctors, however, claim the boy has been brought in an advanced stage of spinal tuberculosis, adding that paucity of funds was a major challenge to initiate orthopaedic treatment.

As a malnourished Golu Rajbhar, a native of Uttar Pradesh, lies flat on a paediatric ward of Gokuldas Tejpal (GT) Hospital, unable to move his head, his mother Anita Rajbhar says in the last two years, the tuberculosis of the spine remained undiagnosed leading the child into an advanced stage.

Eight months ago, she shifted to Mumbai to live with her husband, Budhai Rajbhar, a handcart puller in Masjid Bunder, to start Golu’s treatment.

“He used to have chest pain and could not move his neck. We could never start treatment, we didn’t know what was wrong with him,” she says. In the last six months, the minor’s condition worsened, following which his parents brought him to GT hospital.

An MRI and CT scan conducted on the boy shows five thoracic and three cervical vertebrae have dissolved due to tuberculosis bacteria. The boy now faces multiple challenges.

“He faces risk of restricted heart and pulmonary capacity and loss of height. There are high chances of paralysis,” said Dr Dheeraj Sonawane, orthopaedic surgeon at GT hospital.

According to Dr Lalitkumar Anande, medical superintendent at Sewri TB hospital, the TB bacteria can eat into bone causing it to become a lump. “The bacteria thrives on bone,” he said.

Dr Zarir Udwadia, chest pulmonologist who treats severe forms of tuberculosis, said that TB in the spine is known to affect the bone. “Spinal vertebrae being damaged and dissolved in that case is not unusual,” Udwadia said.

Doctors in GT hospital have, however, claimed that while it is common to see one or two vertebrae in spine dissolve due to TB bacteria, Golu’s case is very rare.

“Eight vertebrae have been completely damaged. We can find very few such cases globally,” Sonawane said, attributing such a condition to a delay in diagnosis.

On Wednesday, a biopsy will be conducted on the minor to assess whether he is resistant to tuberculosis drugs. He is currently undergoing first-line medication of TB.

“He will urgently need a spine surgery. The hospital is trying to arrange for funds,” said Dr Santosh Gitte, medical superintendent at GT hospital. Golu’s vertebrae in the neck and few towards his chest have already dissolved, making his neck movements limited.

According to doctors in GT hospital, a halo brace will be required around his head to hold the skull in a certain position along with a brace to correct the spine alignment around his chest. Multiple surgeries have been planned, which may cost over Rs 1 lakh. “This is a severe deformity. We need to ensure his height is not compromised,” Sonawane said.

Doctors added that Golu, however, first requires to be brought out of malnutrition. There are also attempts to limit further damage of his vertebral column. Since the minor is from UP, he is not eligible for Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana.

Father Rajbhar, who earns Rs 200 a day, says he has visited multiple trusts and arranged Rs 7,000. Anita has started working as a domestic maid to save money for Golu’s treatment. The couple also has a one-year-old daughter.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Mumbai News, download Indian Express App.