Sampada Muduli, a student from Nimapada in Puri district, Odisha, has cleared the NEET-2024 medical entrance exam with an impressive score of 700 out of 720. Despite facing numerous challenges, including his father's disability and his own ongoing kidney issues.

Muduli's journey has been far from easy. His father suffers from spinal and neck problems, adding to the family's financial burdens. Moreover, Sampada has been battling glomerulonephritis since childhood, a kidney condition that causes swelling in his face and feet, as well as digestion issues. Though he manages his condition with medication, doctors have warned that it could worsen over time.

What is Glomerulonephritis?

Glomerulonephritis is a condition where the tiny filters in the kidneys, called glomeruli, get inflamed. These filters are crucial for cleaning the blood by removing waste and extra fluids.

Glomerulonephritis can occur for various reasons. Sometimes, proteins from infections like strep throat can trigger the inflammation. In other cases, it might be due to abnormal proteins building up in the kidneys.

Signs and Symptoms

• Blood or protein in the urine,

• Swelling in the legs or face,

• High blood pressure and

• Fatigue.

Sometimes, there might be no symptoms at all.

Diagnosis

Doctors diagnose glomerulonephritis through

• Urine and blood tests,

• Imaging scans and

• Occasionally, a kidney biopsy is performed, where they examine a small piece of kidney tissue under a microscope.

Treatment

The glomerulonephritis's severity and cause will determine how it is treated. For some types, like those triggered by infections, there might not be a specific treatment. However, medications like steroids or immunosuppressants can help manage inflammation and symptoms. Dialysis or a kidney transplant may be required in extreme situations.

Prevention

Prevention involves prompt treatment of infections like strep throat and maintaining overall good health to reduce the risk of kidney problems.

After finishing Class XII in 2022 at Nimapara Autonomous College, the 20-year-old attempted the NEET exam three times, finally achieving success this year with an all-India rank of 1721 and a rank of 583 in the OBC category. Due to financial constraints, Sampada could not afford coaching classes and did not score well in his first two attempts in 2022 and 2023. However, things changed when he reached out to the Zindagi Foundation, an organization that provides free coaching and support to underprivileged students.

Ajay Bahadur Singh, the founder of the Zindagi Foundation, was impacted by Muduli's story and decided to offer him free coaching, accommodation, and food. With this support, Sampada prepared for a year in Bhubaneswar and successfully cracked the NEET exam. Singh expressed his pride in Muduli and noted that all 20 students supported by the foundation this year cleared the exam.

Muduli's dreams extend beyond just becoming a doctor. He hopes to join SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and plans to use his medical knowledge to treat his own condition and help his father get the best possible care. He is also interested in conducting research on his health condition to find better treatments.

In a similar manner, other students from challenging backgrounds have also achieved success in NEET-2024. Jagadish Mohapatra, the son of a small farmer and daily laborer, scored 705 and is on his way to a prestigious medical college. Gayatri Das, the daughter of a daily-wage laborer from a village lacking medical facilities, is also preparing to become a doctor.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)