logo
Be wary: Adulterated toddy is a silent killer

Be wary: Adulterated toddy is a silent killer

Hans India15-07-2025
Hyderabad: Have toddy shops in the city become death traps? It seems so if one goes by the 'quality' of the drink that is served to consumers in compounds (a Hyderabadi slang for places where toddy is sold).
Endorsing this precarious situation and the perils that come with that, health experts are cautioning people against going in for adulterated toddy. In the absence of pure toddy and the high costs of liquor, many people are getting addicted to toddy and head to the nearest compound, while with an eye on the returns, members from the toddy society make a killing by blending the drink with a combination of dreaded chemicals like chloral hydrate, diazepam, alprazolam and others to give the 'kick'.
Healthcare experts opine that the chemicals that are added to the toddy can be fatal or may severely damage body organs. They point out that alprazolam, a banned substance that causes drowsiness, is openly used in toddy. Diazepam is a proven tranquilizer, which can reduce anxiety and relax muscles. When mixed with toddy, it adds to the intoxication. Benzoic acid is added to ensure that the toddy does not get stale for a long time. Methanol, an industrial alcohol, can kill even if a small amount of it is gulped.
Experts stated that these cocktails of chemicals can severely damage the central nervous system and lead to breathlessness, low blood pressure, coma, and even death.
Long-term consumption of adulterated toddy can gradually damage important body organs like the liver, kidneys, heart, and brain.
Diabetologist Dr Khizer Hussain Junaidy said that it was a misconception in some sections that toddy can help in a speedy recovery from illnesses. There is no scientific evidence to prove this, Dr Junaidy said and added that toddy is an alcoholic beverage. For people recovering from infections, surgeries, or chronic illnesses like diabetes, consuming toddy can hinder the recovery process. It's important to differentiate between cultural practices and medical facts, he said.
The short-term side-effects include severe intoxication in a short time, dizziness, vomiting, stomach ache, diarrhoea, loss of vision or permanent blindness, heart attack, low blood pressure. The long-term side effects include developing liver complications, brain damage leading to memory loss, nerve weakness, insomnia, mental anxiety, and decreased immunity levels. Depression, anxiety, hallucinations and addiction can worsen the plight of the consumer/addict. Senior IMA official Dr Kiran Madhala said that the authorities should check proactively, and people should be counselled about the ill-effects of toddy consumption.
'People should also think about whether we are getting enough toddy. Do we have enough trees?' said Dr Kiran. He further said that the government needs to have back up plans before it can impose a sweeping ban on toddy.
Rehabilitation is a complicated process. The government needs to provide rehabilitation as the withdrawal symptoms are deadly, he said.
Given this alarming situation, one must understand that closing toddy outlets where nine persons died after consuming adulterated toddy in Kukatpally and the surrounding areas between July 7 and 9 is no end-all remedy.
Booking cases and taking stringent action against those selling adulterated today can be an effective deterrent.
The moot question whether action would be taken against toddy society members given that they enjoy political patronage and constitute a powerful make-or-break vote bank.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Thyroid disorders rising, say speakers
Thyroid disorders rising, say speakers

Hans India

time3 days ago

  • Hans India

Thyroid disorders rising, say speakers

Berhampur: Thyroid disorders are rising across the globe, including India. Doctors expressed their concern over this rising trend at the 5th South Odisha Thyroid Symposium, a State level conference addressing various aspects of thyroid disorders, held at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Hall here. Thyroid gland is like a battery in the body, which provides energy to various organs. Thyroid disorders affect people cutting across age and gender and have significant implications on functioning of several vital organs in body including heart, brain, kidney, bone, intestine and reproductive organs. The prevalence is around 9-15 per cent, with females, elderly, the ones with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and depression being prone to this ailment, the speakers said. Periodic updates of the doctors involved in the care of people having thyroid disorders are important, they said. The conference was organised by Dr Sunil Kumar Kota, Consultant Endocrinologist from Swasthya Sadan, Berhampur in association with IMA Berhampur.

Allopathy practice curbs: Homeopath moves high court
Allopathy practice curbs: Homeopath moves high court

Time of India

time4 days ago

  • Time of India

Allopathy practice curbs: Homeopath moves high court

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has issued a notice to the state govt on a petition challenging its order that stayed the registration of homeopathic practitioners who completed a course permitting them to practise allopathy. Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale also issued notices to the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), the Indian Medical Association (Maharashtra), and the Maharashtra Council of Homeopathy. They will hear the matter on July 28. The petition, filed by Pune-based homeopath Dr Rashi Mordia, urged the HC to quash and set aside the Medical Education and Drug Department's July 11 order. This order withdrew an April 24 direction to the MMC to maintain a register of homeopaths who completed a certificate course in modern pharmacology (CCMP). Mordia also sought quashing of the consequential notifications and communications. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Mordia's petition, filed through advocate Sagar Kursija, stated that CCMP was introduced in 2014 by an amendment to the Maharashtra Homeopathic Practitioners Act. The definition of 'medical practitioner' in the MMC Act was also amended to include a homeopath with CCMP. On a petition by the IMA (Pune), the HC in Dec 2014 refused to stay the amendments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Benefits of Trading Bitcoin CFDs IC Markets Learn More Undo In July 2015, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with the HC's interim order. The petition mentioned that the MMC did not maintain a separate register for homeopaths with CCMP. Following the state's April 24 direction, on June 30, the MMC notified that it would start registrations. On July 1, the IMA wrote to the Chief Minister, stating that allowing homeopaths to practise allopathy might pose a threat to public health and patient safety. Consequently, on July 11, the state withdrew its April 24 direction, constituted a committee to submit a comprehensive report on the topic, and directed the MMC to immediately stop the registration of homeopaths with CCMP. Based on the July 11 order, the Food and Drugs Administration also suspended its December 2014 circular, which permitted the sale of medicines on the prescription of such homeopaths. Mordia's petition argued that the state's stay on registration amounts to an "overreach" of the High Court and Supreme Court orders. CCMP was introduced "to address the need for qualified health professionals, particularly in remote areas of Maharashtra."

Severe Covid-19, not vax, increases risk of cardiovascular disease
Severe Covid-19, not vax, increases risk of cardiovascular disease

New Indian Express

time4 days ago

  • New Indian Express

Severe Covid-19, not vax, increases risk of cardiovascular disease

There is no scientific evidence that Covid-19 vaccines cause sudden deaths, said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, the co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid Task Force. Speaking with Kavita Bajeli-Datt, the convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, IMA, however, said, there is a clear link between severe Covid-19 and increased cardiovascular risk in the months or years that follow as Covid damages the inner lining of blood vessels, which can later result in heart attacks, strokes, or other vascular events. Edited excerpts: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has claimed that 'hasty approval and distribution' of Covid-19 vaccines may be responsible for over 20 apparent heart attack deaths in Hassan district. Your view? There is no scientific evidence that Covid-19 vaccines cause sudden deaths, despite widespread speculation on social media fuelled by anti-science activists. Sudden death in young adults is a well-known phenomenon long before the pandemic, occurring at a rate of about 1 in 1,700 adults aged 35–45 annually. The causes are diverse. In older adults, heart attacks are a common cause, while in younger individuals, inherited heart rhythm disorders and structural heart diseases like cardiomyopathy are more likely. Non-cardiac causes include stroke, infections, toxins, and pulmonary embolism. Without ascertaining a clear cause of the recent deaths, speculation is misleading and unscientific. How safe are Covid-19 vaccines? The safety of Covid-19 vaccines has been demonstrated repeatedly through large studies in India and globally. Because vaccines activate the immune system, the resulting inflammation leads to mild side effects such as fever, body aches, and pain at the injection site. A few specific vaccines were subsequently found to have extremely rare side effects. For example, mRNA vaccines used in the US can cause myocarditis, particularly in young males, at a rate of about 1 in 37,000. Adenovirus vector vaccines can cause a rare condition called VITT (vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia), with a frequency of about 1 in 50,000 to 100,000. Myocarditis usually resolves fully, while VITT can be fatal in a minority. Importantly, VITT typically occurs within two weeks of the first dose—not years later. What explains the perceived rise in sudden heart attack deaths in India? Sudden cardiac deaths have always occurred across all adult age groups. However, with the widespread use of smartphones and social media, such incidents are now frequently recorded and shared virally, creating the impression that these events are more common. Most cardiologists agree there is no substantial increase. However, those who had Covid-19, especially before vaccines were available, do have a modestly increased risk of cardiovascular events that can persist for up to three years. At an individual level, this risk is small and not a cause for panic. Is there a link between Covid-19 and heart attacks? Yes. There is a clear link between severe Covid-19 and increased cardiovascular risk in the months or years that follow. Covid damages the inner lining of blood vessels, which can later result in heart attacks, strokes, or other vascular events. This has been well-documented in numerous international studies. Importantly, those who were vaccinated and therefore experienced milder infections are less likely to develop such complications. This protective effect of vaccination has been clearly proven. Some claim the vaccines were rushed without proper clinical trials, possibly contributing to sudden deaths. Your take? All Covid-19 vaccines, including those used in India, underwent proper clinical trials. In the past, vaccine trials took many years to complete primarily because the diseases they targeted were rare and required longer follow-up. In contrast, Covid-19 was spreading rapidly, allowing researchers to reach statistical endpoints much faster. This speed led some to mistakenly claim that trials were 'rushed' or 'skipped'. The chief objective of the phase 3 trials was to see if people who took vaccines had a lower chance of getting Covid compared to those who were unvaccinated. It is worth remembering that Covid-19 was a global emergency killing a total of at least 7 million people, especially in the first two years of the pandemic. It is true that certain inactivated vaccines were authorised for use by many countries as soon as early trial results became available. Delaying vaccine rollout, citing reasons for full publication of all phase 3 trials in reputed medical journals would have meant that many more people would have died while waiting to receive the vaccine. This is the basis of emergency use authorisation or EUA, which was done in several countries, including ours. How different are the vaccines used in India and the US? The US primarily used mRNA vaccines and a smaller share of adenovirus vector vaccines. In India, about 90% of the population received adenovirus vector vaccines, while the remaining received an inactivated virus vaccine produced domestically. The Union Health Ministry has quoted ICMR-AIIMS studies on sudden unexplained deaths and linked them to lifestyle and pre-existing conditions. Your take? Multicentre studies in India, including those by ICMR-AIIMS, have shown that most sudden deaths since the pandemic are linked to known risk factors: family history, substance use, binge drinking, etc. Importantly, people with a history of severe Covid, especially those who resumed heavy exercise too early, are at higher risk. Those who had received two vaccine doses are less likely to die suddenly compared to unvaccinated individuals. These findings mirror results from studies worldwide.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store