Hidden Brain Hemorrhage Discovered in Teen After Months of Headaches – Wockhardt Hospitals

Mumbai: What began as what seemed like ordinary exam stress and eye strain turned into a terrifying medical emergency for a 16-year-old HSC student from Mumbai.

For months, the teenager had been complaining of persistent headaches, which her family attributed to the pressures of board exam preparation and increased screen time. However, the real cause was far more dangerous — a major brain hemorrhage caused by excessively thin blood.

The girl had undergone heart surgery as a child and was prescribed long-term anticoagulant medication to prevent clotting. Over time, her blood became too thin, a condition reflected by a dangerously high International Normalized Ratio (INR). Unfortunately, this imbalance went unnoticed until the situation became critical.

When her headaches worsened and her alertness declined, her family rushed her to Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central. There, Dr. Rituja Ugalmugle, Consultant in Internal Medicine, immediately identified the red flags.

“Her symptoms didn’t fit a simple stress or vision problem. We ordered an urgent scan, which revealed a massive brain bleed with midline shift — a sign of severe internal pressure. She was at imminent risk of coma or death,” Dr. Ugalmugle explained.

The case was swiftly handed over to Dr. Mazda Turel, Consultant Brain & Spine Surgeon at the hospital, who performed an emergency craniotomy — a delicate brain surgery to remove the large clot and relieve pressure.

“Operating on such a young patient with extensive bleeding is always challenging,” Dr. Turel shared. “The key was timely intervention — removing the clot before it caused irreversible brain damage.”

After the operation, the teenager spent nearly three weeks in intensive care, followed by physiotherapy. Her recovery was regaining full consciousness and mobility.

Her story serves as a strong reminder that persistent headaches should never be ignored, especially in patients with a history of heart surgery or those taking anticoagulants. Regular monitoring of blood parameters like INR and timely medical reviews are essential.

As Dr. Ugalmugle emphasized, “A simple follow-up blood test could have prevented this. Headaches may seem harmless, but sometimes, they’re your body’s way of warning you of something far more serious.”

This case underscores the importance of awareness, vigilance, and early intervention — because timely action can truly make the difference between life and loss.