Bengaluru, Apr 13: Imagine going for a routine health check-up and being diagnosed with chronic illness. Such was the case with the three patients, who came to Fortis Bannerghatta Road, for routine health check-ups and later were diagnosed with chronic illnesses. Doctors at the hospital successfully diagnosed and treated the chronic condition, highlighting the importance of regular medical screening for timely diagnosis and better outcomes.
All the three patients were treated under the expertise of Dr. Sheela Chakravarthy, Director, Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road. In each case, commonly ignored symptoms such as pain, fatigue, or fever turned out to be signs of complex underlying conditions including cancer, autoimmune disease and chronic inflammatory lung disease, highlighting how early warning signs are often subtle but clinically significant.
In the first case, a 54-year-old software engineer from Bengaluru presented with severe burning pain in both legs, radiating from the lower back to his thighs, calves, and feet. The pain was constant, worsened at night and while standing or walking, and did not respond to routine painkillers. While the pain initially appeared like a routine nerve or spine issue, doctors noticed an important warning sign – unexplained weight loss of nearly 8 kgs over just 3 months. While routine blood tests were normal, advanced imaging revealed inflammation of the nerves, which led doctors to investigate further. A PET-CT scan eventually detected an underlying lung cancer, which had spread and was causing nerve-related pain. The patient was then referred to the oncology team for further treatment. This case highlights the risk of ignoring persistent pain, especially when associated with unexplained weight loss.
The second case involved a 23-year-old student from Bengaluru who presented with progressively worsening fatigue and weakness over a month, making even routine daily activities difficult. Blood tests showed her haemoglobin levels were dangerously low despite no history of bleeding or prior illness. Further tests revealed that her immune system was destroying her own red blood cells, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition known as warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. She was treated with carefully monitored blood transfusions, steroids, folic acid, and immunosuppressive therapy. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment helped stabilise her condition, preventing potentially fatal complications and enabling long-term disease management.
The third case involved a 51-year-old man from Bengaluru with a congenital underdeveloped left lung who was presented with fever for nearly a month, accompanied by chills, dry cough and breathlessness, that did not respond to routine treatment. He also reported unexplained weight loss. Detailed evaluation suggested lung inflammation rather than infection. A thorough history revealed long-term exposure to pigeons, leading to the diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an inflammatory lung condition triggered by an allergic reaction to environmental allergens such as bird proteins. The key treatment in this condition involved avoiding further exposure to birds, along with short-term steroid therapy to reduce lung inflammation. Early identification of the cause and appropriate treatment resulted in significant clinical improvement. This case highlights the importance of sharing detailed history, as environmental exposure can mimic infections but requires a very different treatment approach.
Giving details of the cases, Dr Sheela Chakravarthy, Director – Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, said, “Symptoms like pain, fatigue or fever are often considered minor and self-limiting. However, when they persist, worsen, or are unexplained, they should not be ignored. These cases clearly demonstrate that early medical attention, preventive health checks and thorough evaluation can help detect serious conditions at a stage where treatment outcomes are significantly better and, in many instances, life-saving.”Mr. Gautham CB, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru, added, “These cases reinforce our commitment to patient-centric, evidence-based care where no symptom is dismissed as ‘routine’ without thorough evaluation. Early diagnosis is often the result of close collaboration between clinicians, timely access to advanced diagnostics and a strong culture of preventive healthcare. At Fortis Bannerghatta Road, our focus remains on identifying serious conditions early and delivering timely, coordinated care that can be truly life-saving.”
