PGIMS Rohtak doctor’s research on rare chest infection wins national honour
A rare condition causing brown pus to accumulate in the chest can be mistaken for tuberculosis, potentially delaying the correct treatment, a study by a PGIMS Rohtak doctor has highlighted. The research by Dr Granthika Sharma, an MD resident in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, was adjudged the second-best paper at NAPCON 2026, held in Jaipur from October 22 to 25.
Girish Saini
Oct 29, 2026 07:37
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Rohtak, October 29, 2026: A rare condition causing brown pus to accumulate in the chest can be mistaken for tuberculosis, potentially delaying the correct treatment, a study by a PGIMS Rohtak doctor has highlighted. The research by Dr Granthika Sharma, an MD resident in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, was adjudged the second-best paper at NAPCON 2026, held in Jaipur from October 22 to 25.
Congratulating Dr Sharma on the achievement, UHSR Vice-Chancellor Dr H.K. Aggarwal said accurate diagnosis was essential for effective treatment. He stressed that symptoms such as brown-coloured pus in the chest, fever and chest pain should not automatically be attributed to TB, as they could indicate a rare condition requiring a different treatment approach.
Dr Aggarwal explained that, in some cases, the organisms responsible for intestinal amoebiasis can spread to the chest, leading to a rare manifestation associated with empyema, or pus accumulation in the chest cavity. According to the research, such cases are extremely uncommon, with an estimated occurrence of one in 250,000 people.
Dr Prem Prakash Gupta, head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine, said early diagnosis and appropriate treatment could help patients recover without major surgery. Treatment involves antibiotics and drainage of the accumulated pus through a tube for around 10 days.
He added that the complete treatment was available free of cost at PGIMS Rohtak, without the need to purchase medicines from outside. Patients experiencing brown-coloured chest discharge, fever or chest pain should seek prompt medical evaluation.
Dr Sharma presented her research paper, titled “Rare Manifestation of Thoracic Amoebiasis Leading to Empyema and Abdominal Complications,” at NAPCON 2026, one of India's major respiratory medicine conferences organised by the National College of Chest Physicians and the Indian Chest Society.
The conference brought together faculty members from more than 30 countries and around 3,000 delegates. Dr Gupta described Dr Sharma as a dedicated and hardworking resident, adding that the recognition was a matter of pride for the department. Dr Rohit Arya was also present on the occasion.
