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Gym instructor unexpectedly dies of ‘mild malaria’ because, doctors suspect, his internal organs had been ravaged by use of steroids
Mahesh Khokarale, a 25-year-old instructor with Gold’s Gym, had everything going for him. The fitness freak and bodybuilder had won the Mumbai Shree title last year and was training for the Bharat Shree competition scheduled for February 2010.
After that, he was planning to get married in May. But, all the dreams vaporised on Saturday morning when Mahesh passed away due to ‘mild malaria’.
Doctors say it was not the malaria that killed him, but use of steroids which had weakened his liver so much that when illness struck, his body could not fight back.
Mahesh was an instructor with the Worli branch of Gold’s Gym. A resident of Ramdoot building near Currey Road Railway Station, he had mild fever on October 31. “He took some medicine before
going to work. All of us thought it was a regular fever and there was nothing to worry about,” said Sukhdev Khokarale, Mahesh’s elder brother.
On Sunday, when the fever persisted, Mahesh decided to rest at home. On Monday, accompanied by his fiancé, Mahesh went to KEM Hospital for a blood test and specialised treatment. But, at the hospital, he collapsed and went into coma. He was taken to the emergency ward and then shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The blood test report, which came on Tuesday, revealed that he was suffering from mild malaria. “A patient does not go into coma and neither does the liver fail in case of mild malaria. His liver was damaged even before the malaria struck,” said a doctor at KEM.
Doctors, however, admitted that they had no record of Mahesh’s medical history, as he was admitted only after he collapsed. “We suspect he was on steroids since he was a fitness trainer and also a body builder. Secondly, liver damage leading to death in case of mild malaria is unheard of. His family too said that we must treat him assuming that he was on steroids,” said another doctor at KEM.
‘HE HAD NO VICES’
According to Sukhdev, Mahesh used to wake up at 5.30 am every day and exercise in between his work at the gym. “He had no vices and was very particular about his diet. We don’t know if he used steroids to pump up his body.”
Althea Shah, general manager, fitness and operations at Gold’s Gym, said, “Mahesh was with us for five years and popular among our clients. As a trainer with us, there was no need for him to take steroids. He may have taken them last year when he took part in a competition,” she said adding what trainers do outside the gym is ‘not something we look at’.
Dr Sanjay Oak, dean at KEM Hospital, who was involved in Mahesh’s case, did not deny that the case got complicated because of steroids, but refused to elaborate. “I will not be able to say anything about the case, as it falls under the purview of patient confidentiality,” he said.
Expert Speak
These days, youngsters use steroids to get pumped-up bodies like film stars. They end up using anabolic steroids without prescription or guidance from qualified doctors. They do not even know about the harmful side-effects and that steroids should be taken only after a careful examination of their bodies. Constant use of steroids or consumption in large quantities damages liver and kidneys
—Dr P L Tiwari, cardiologist and physician, Bombay Hospital
Most people who want better bodies use anabolic steroids, which are very different from the ones that doctors prescribe. Anabolic steroids strengthen the muscles. However, prolonged use can damage kidneys and the liver. It is extremely essential that steroids are taken under medical observation and, that too, after a proper check-up. In this case, the patient died due to liver failure after mild malaria. Liver failure in mild malaria is very rare
—Dr Anita Matthew, physician and specialist in infectious diseases, Wockhardt Hospital
Apart from anabolic steriods, androzens and testosterone steriods are commonly used by trainers. Plus, there are lots of new steroids in the market, which even we don’t know of. Such steriods can have an adverse affect on our organs
—Dr Phulrenu Chauhan, endocrinologist, Hinduja Hospital
bEWARE
Mahesh Khokarale, a 25-year-old instructor with Gold’s Gym, had everything going for him. The fitness freak and bodybuilder had won the Mumbai Shree title last year and was training for the Bharat Shree competition scheduled for February 2010.
After that, he was planning to get married in May. But, all the dreams vaporised on Saturday morning when Mahesh passed away due to ‘mild malaria’.
######
Doctors say it was not the malaria that killed him, but use of steroids which had weakened his liver so much that when illness struck, his body could not fight back.
Mahesh was an instructor with the Worli branch of Gold’s Gym. A resident of Ramdoot building near Currey Road Railway Station, he had mild fever on October 31. “He took some medicine before
going to work. All of us thought it was a regular fever and there was nothing to worry about,” said Sukhdev Khokarale, Mahesh’s elder brother.
On Sunday, when the fever persisted, Mahesh decided to rest at home. On Monday, accompanied by his fiancé, Mahesh went to KEM Hospital for a blood test and specialised treatment. But, at the hospital, he collapsed and went into coma. He was taken to the emergency ward and then shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The blood test report, which came on Tuesday, revealed that he was suffering from mild malaria. “A patient does not go into coma and neither does the liver fail in case of mild malaria. His liver was damaged even before the malaria struck,” said a doctor at KEM.
Doctors, however, admitted that they had no record of Mahesh’s medical history, as he was admitted only after he collapsed. “We suspect he was on steroids since he was a fitness trainer and also a body builder. Secondly, liver damage leading to death in case of mild malaria is unheard of. His family too said that we must treat him assuming that he was on steroids,” said another doctor at KEM.
‘HE HAD NO VICES’
According to Sukhdev, Mahesh used to wake up at 5.30 am every day and exercise in between his work at the gym. “He had no vices and was very particular about his diet. We don’t know if he used steroids to pump up his body.”
Althea Shah, general manager, fitness and operations at Gold’s Gym, said, “Mahesh was with us for five years and popular among our clients. As a trainer with us, there was no need for him to take steroids. He may have taken them last year when he took part in a competition,” she said adding what trainers do outside the gym is ‘not something we look at’.
Dr Sanjay Oak, dean at KEM Hospital, who was involved in Mahesh’s case, did not deny that the case got complicated because of steroids, but refused to elaborate. “I will not be able to say anything about the case, as it falls under the purview of patient confidentiality,” he said.
Expert Speak
These days, youngsters use steroids to get pumped-up bodies like film stars. They end up using anabolic steroids without prescription or guidance from qualified doctors. They do not even know about the harmful side-effects and that steroids should be taken only after a careful examination of their bodies. Constant use of steroids or consumption in large quantities damages liver and kidneys
—Dr P L Tiwari, cardiologist and physician, Bombay Hospital
Most people who want better bodies use anabolic steroids, which are very different from the ones that doctors prescribe. Anabolic steroids strengthen the muscles. However, prolonged use can damage kidneys and the liver. It is extremely essential that steroids are taken under medical observation and, that too, after a proper check-up. In this case, the patient died due to liver failure after mild malaria. Liver failure in mild malaria is very rare
—Dr Anita Matthew, physician and specialist in infectious diseases, Wockhardt Hospital
Apart from anabolic steriods, androzens and testosterone steriods are commonly used by trainers. Plus, there are lots of new steroids in the market, which even we don’t know of. Such steriods can have an adverse affect on our organs
—Dr Phulrenu Chauhan, endocrinologist, Hinduja Hospital
bEWARE
