Rare ailment kills IIMA student, tests rule out H1N1

A 21-year-old student of IIMA's post-graduate programme (PGP), Nikhil Kamath, died at Sterling Hospital on Tuesday morning. Doctors said his death was a result of multiple organ failure, called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

The news of Kamath falling sick initially caused panic on the campus as many thought it to be a case of swine flu. Kamath, reports said, had been sick for about six days.
Director of IIMA Samir Barua said, "The doctors have specified that the student died from a rare ailment, called TTP, around 6:30 am. He tested negative for H1N1."

Kamath was advised to take rest in his room when he first complained of fever on September 23. He was under the observation of the institute's doctors for the next two days. Later, as he showed no signs of improvement, doctors referred him to Sal Hospital.Dr Kiran Desai, the institute's doctor, said, "Doctors at Sal advised the student to take rest for one more day. However, as his health did not improve, he was admitted to Sal on September 26."

Kamath's situation worsened and on September 28 he was shifted to Sterling Hospital at around 11:30pm. He died 7 hours later.  Kamath was an IIT, Madras graduate in Metallurgy & Material Engineering. A cheerful person, he was extremely popular with mates.