Devi Chandana opens up about serious health scare after Hepatitis A diagnosis

Actor Devi Chandana recently left her fans and well-wishers shocked after revealing a serious health crisis she faced. In a video shared on her YouTube channel, Devi disclosed that she was hospitalised for over a month after being diagnosed with hepatitis A. She also reflected on how some people had downplayed the illness, cautioning that hepatitis A is not something to be taken lightly.

Devi was admitted to the hospital after experiencing severe shortness of breath. It was only after medical tests that the disease was identified. Her condition was serious enough that she was immediately moved to the ICU, where tests showed her liver enzyme levels were alarmingly high. She remained in the ICU for two weeks and is now on the path to recovery.“When I had COVID-19, I thought that was the worst it could get,” she shared. “But six months later, I contracted H1N1, which made COVID seem milder in comparison. Now, after going through hepatitis A, I feel this has been the most severe of the three.”

Addressing speculation about how she contracted the virus, Devi said she hadn't traveled extensively but had visited Munnar, attended a function in Mumbai, and was part of a shoot. “It was likely due to poor immunity,” she said.

Her husband, Kishore, also spoke about the ordeal in the video. He revealed that Devi was admitted on August 26. “She was so weak, she lay curled up like a leech on the bed,” he recalled. “She couldn’t talk, stand, or eat. Whenever she tried to eat, she vomited immediately. She began to fear even looking at food. Her body and eyes turned yellow. Her bilirubin levels dropped to just 18, while her liver enzymes skyrocketed past 6000.”Devi admitted that she initially ignored the symptoms, assuming her shortness of breath was due to cold weather. In reality, her liver was severely inflamed, affecting her ability to breathe.

The illness forced her to miss significant moments, including the arangettam (debut performance) of her students. She expressed gratitude to everyone who reached out, adding that she was unable to use her phone for over three weeks due to ICU restrictions.She also addressed the lack of awareness about the seriousness of hepatitis A, saying, “Some people brushed it off like it was nothing. They don’t realize how dangerous it can be.” Now focused on recovery, Devi is prioritising liver health through nutritious food and a healthy lifestyle. She urged viewers to be mindful of their food and water sources.

“Please be careful about what you eat and drink,” she advised. “I’ve heard of people going into a coma after testing positive for hepatitis B. So avoid the temptation to binge on street food and always drink clean water. It's easy to give advice, but surviving this illness was incredibly difficult. So please, take care.”