Maharashtra: H1N1 tragedy gives new life to toddler in Kolhapur

The death of a 2.5-year-old child infected with H1N1 at a hospital in Vashi has given new life to a 3-year-old from Kolhapur, who travelled to Mumbai for treatment. This makes them part of a small group of the youngest organ donor recipients.

Aarush Patil, the recipient, was diagnosed with a genetic kidney disease shortly after birth. "We initially consulted a local doctor who prescribed steroids and referred us to nephrologists," said his father, Amar Patil. The Patil family soon found themselves consulting multiple hospitals and specialists. Aarush underwent peritoneal dialysis for a year. By late 2023, they were receiving care at Mumbai's HN Reliance Hospital.

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Earlier this year, Aarush was added to the waiting list for a cadaveric organ transplant, with an expected wait of one to two years. "We were fortunate that a family chose to donate their child's organs. It must have been a difficult decision for them," Patil said. He also mentioned that they had previously lost a child to the same disease.

Dr Kiran Sathe, a paediatric nephrologist at the hospital, explained that the deceased donor had suffered respiratory distress due to H1N1, leading to a ventilator-assisted period during which brain damage from hypoxia resulted in brain death. He praised the donor family's decision to donate, stating, "To emerge from their grief and make that choice is truly commendable."

Last year, among 50 organ donations, only four were from paediatric patients. Earlier this year, the organs of a 10-year-old donor in the city saved multiple lives, including that of a 5-year-old in Jalna. To date, there have been 36 organ donations in the city this year.

Regarding Aarush's condition, Dr Sathe noted that the gene responsible for maintaining kidney function was defective, leading to the disease. "I want to highlight the importance of genetic counselling, especially for families with a history of genetic conditions and couples who are married within the family," he added. Aarush was discharged from the hospital on August 17 and has been stable since.

2.5 yrs
Age of the organ donor

3 yrs
Age of the recipient