Suhani Bhatnagar, known for her role in Aamir Khan's film 'Dangal', passed away on February 16th. The actress, aged 19, portrayed the character of young Babita Phogat in the film Dangal. She died while battling with a rare autoimmune condition called Dermatomyositis. Her final rituals were conducted on Saturday.
Suhani’s father Sumit Bhatnagar said that Suhani developed a red spot on her hands two months ago which eventually spread to her entire body. They thought it was an allergy and consulted with doctors in different hospitals in Faridabad but it couldn't be diagnosed. They got her admitted to AIIMS on February 7th. The following test results showed that she had a sporadic dermatomyositis disease. Her father conceded that the treatment for this condition involved the administration of steroids. Sadly, this treatment adversely impacted her immune system resulting in a weakened immunity. The weakened immunity left her vulnerable to infections within the hospital facility. Her lungs were damaged due to excess fluid accumulation that led to breathing difficulties. She died on 16 February evening.
Suhani became famous after her role in the Dangal movie in 2016, especially in the song Haanikarak Bapu. She acted as a sister of Zaira Wasim. She also worked in a few advertisements.
Aamir Khan Productions condoled Suhani’s death in an X (formerly Twitter) post saying, they are deeply saddened to hear about Suhani’s passing away.
Dermatomyositis is a rare autoimmune disease, distinguished by inflammation of the skin and muscles. It manifests with distinctive skin rashes usually accompanied by muscle weakness and pain. The actual cause of the disease is unknown, but it's thought to involve a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers.
It shows a range of symptoms affecting the skin and muscles including a distinctive rash described as a reddish or purple discoloration, generally on the face, eyelids, knuckles, and elbows. Other symptoms may include sensitivity to skin exposure, rash on upper eyelids called heliotrope rash, and ragged cuticles or nail fold changes called Gottorn’s papules. Further symptoms include muscle weakness and pain, particularly around shoulders and hips, fatigue, swallowing difficulty, and joint pain.
This condition affects adults in the age group of 40-60 years and children between 5-15 years of age. However, the effects of this condition are more in females compared to men.
The treatment involves a combination of medications such as steroids, immunosuppressants, and intravenous immunoglobulin. Nonpharmacological approaches such as physical therapy to maintain muscle strength and function, sun avoidance, sunscreens, surgical care, speech therapy, and dietetic assessment. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to manage symptoms and reduce complications and mortality of patients.
References:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatomyositis
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15701-dermatomyositis
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina/ MSM)