Kozhikode: Steps afoot for child’s treatment

KOZHIKODE: A day after Rs 18 crore was raised for the treatment of Mohammed, the one and a half year old kid from Mattool in Kannur, who is diagnosed with the rare medical condition of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the authorities of Aster MIMS hospital in Kozhikode, where he will be treated, have set in motion the preliminary steps for his gene therapy treatment.
Paediatric neurologist Dr Smilu Mohanlal who is treating the kid met the kid’s family members and explained the treatment modalities ahead. She said a single one-time infusion of the medicine Zolgensma was needed for the treatment.

The kid was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 and 3 (SMA), a rare genetic disease that weakens the muscles and leads to walking difficulty, after early childhood. The child has to be administered gene therapy before he reaches the age of two. Hospital authorities said of tests have to be conducted to see the drug’s effectiveness for the treatment of Mohamed. "If the results of the tests are favourable then the parents can make the money transaction with the company. The treatment can start as soon as the medicine is available," Dr. Smilu Mohanlal said.