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By India Today News Desk: A woman from Ranchi suffered from acute kidney failure due to consumption of the raw gallbladder of a locally available Rohu fish for 3 days straight. She said she consumed it to cure her diabetes on the advice of a local “doctor”. Though she recovered from the kidney failure, the doctors who treated her flagged the consumption of raw fish’s gallbladder due to a high quantity of bile present in the organ.
Seta Devi, a 48-year-old resident of Ranchi, was on Wednesday admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi after she developed severe nausea and vomiting symptoms. The department of nephrology at the hospital, after treating her with two sessions of hemodialysis, informed her family that a biopsy revealed severe inflammation in her kidneys.
On being asked about her eating habits, the woman told the doctors that she was advised to eat raw gall bladder by a local doctor in order to keep her diabetes in control. The doctors flagged it as the most probable reason for her illness and put her on high doses of steroids with supportive treatment.
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About a week after the treatment started, the woman’s kidney began to recover, and by the end of another week, she was discharged with normal kidney function. The doctors, however, flagged the consumption of raw gall bladder to avoid such health issues.
Raw fish gall bladder consumption is a common practice in certain regions of Asia, including India — particularly the eastern and southern parts of India. It is traditionally believed to cure diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma, arthritis and visual disturbances, among other health issues. The most commonly implicated fish species are the Rohu (Labeo rohita) and the Catla (Catla catla), which are commonly consumed in many parts of the country.
Speaking about the same, Dr.(Prof.) A.K. Bhalla, Chairperson of Department of Nephrology at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said, “It is important to note that the risk of kidney injury is not limited to these two species of fish and can also occur with the consumption of gallbladder of other types of fish. I recommend avoiding the consumption of raw fish’s gallbladder altogether to prevent potential health risks.”
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Explaining further, Dr. Bhalla said these fish naturally produce high levels of bile in their digestive systems, which can be harmful to humans when ingested in large quantities. “The bile contains a toxin called cyprinol, which has been shown to cause kidney damage in humans. Symptoms of fish bile-associated kidney injury can include abdominal pain, vomiting, and decreased urine output. In severe cases, the condition can lead to kidney failure and even death,” he added.
According to Dr. Vaibhav Tiwari, a consultant in the department of Nephrology at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, it is also important to ensure that fish to be consumed is cooked thoroughly, as this can help to reduce the levels of toxins present in the fish. “To prevent fish bile-associated kidney injury, we recommend avoiding consuming fish that are known to have high levels of bile. If it is consumed, it should be properly prepared and cooked. In addition to these precautions, individuals who experience symptoms of fish bile-associated kidney injury should seek medical attention immediately,” Tiwari said.
“Treatment may involve supportive care, such as hydration and pain management, as well as measures to protect the kidneys from further damage. In this particular case, timely diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy ensured timely treatment,” he added.
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