It was a personal tragedy that made Dr Sheela Chitnis join hands with like-minded persons to establish the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI), an NGO that functions as a support group for the welfare of people suffering from the debilitating neurological disorder.

“My husband Mukund was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). The first few symptoms were double vision and trouble with co-ordination and balance,” recalled Dr Chitnis.

In the early 70s, Mukund lost vision in one eye completely. “The opthalmologist said his retina was damaged, but didn’t tell us the reason behind it,” recalled Chitnis. It was only in 1977 that Dr Noshir Wadia, eminent neurologist, diagnosed the reason — MS, a disease which affects the autoimmune system of people often in the prime of their lives.

According to Dr Wadia, Mukund had been suffering from MS since the time he was 19. “Not many people, including doctors, know about MS, hence the late diagnosis,” said Chitnis.

“Fortunately, with MRI scans, we are able to diagnose it more easily,” said Dr BS Singhal, neuro-physician, Bombay Hospital. “The incidence is as high as five to 10 per one lakh persons. There are approximately up to 90,000 MS patients in the country,” he added.

No one knows what causes MS. Scientists say that after a certain type of viral infection, the immune system starts attacking the myelin as if it were the virus. There is no cure for MS either, but medicines may slow it down.

However, what MSSI does is provide help in the form of physiotherapy, home nursing, counselling for the family and the patients, disability certificates, rehabilitation of persons and even financial assistance for the 3,000-odd persons with the disease, affiliated to MSSI in India. About 400 of them are in Mumbai alone.

“Many patients ask ‘What is this? Or, why me?’ when they are diagnosed with MS, a disease that they cannot even pronounce properly,” said Chitnis. “Organisations like MSSI are important as they provide assistance, help develop bonds among the patients,” said Dr Singhal.

Websites: http://www.mssocietyindia.org/index.html; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/multiplesclerosis.html
MSSI contact: 022 - 2437 6855
(If you know of or belong to a support group and would like it to be featured here, mail us at healthactionline@dnaindia.net)