Jayalalithaa has recovered completely, remains in ICCU to stay infection-free: Apollo Hospitals chairman

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa continues to be in the intensive critical care unit (ICCU) of Apollo Hospitals here as doctors want to keep her infection-free in view of her very low resistance, hospital chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy said on Friday.Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, Dr Reddy said the chief minister’s “mental functions are absolutely normal” and she could leave for home “as and when she wants to.”The 68-year-old AIADMK supremo was “living beautifully” without ventilator, but respiratory support was being given for 15-20 minutes a day to ensure that her lungs don’t collapse, he said.To a question on why the chief minister continued to be in the ICCU, Dr Reddy said it was to avoid infections. “Some more systems of her body have to be pepped up. We will shift her before long,” he said.The chief minister is on a high protein diet. He said the chief minister now has a regular diet and talks normally. Her mental function is absolutely normal. “I don’t see her often, but last time we had a good conversation,” Dr Reddy said.When asked if she was physically fit to resume charge, he said, “I can’t dictate her to go to work. She has a passion for work and she will get back as soon as possible”. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital on September 22 with complaints of fever and dehydration. She was later put on respiratory support and treated with antibiotics for her infection and lung congestion. She was given passive physiotherapy. A team of doctors from the UK and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, joined the team of doctors at the Apollo Hospitals to treat her.