KARACHI, Jan 20: Doctors have reminded the public as well as the concerned authorities that betel nut (chalia or supari) chewing can in no way be considered an unharmful habit and that its hazards are countless.

They referred to the stiffness in the muscles and tissues of the mouth with tongue turning into a mere rubber strap caused due to the prolonged supari chewing.

According to them, the conditions are a manifestation of an early stage of oral cancer, which is followed by horrifying sequence of control and treatment methods as the mouth of the patient is forcefully opened with instruments and retained in the position with the help of a wood or plastic strips to prevent further stricture.

Mentioning that previously the aged people were the common victims of the betel leaf and nut chewing habit, they regretted that recent innovation of packing the items in fancy sachets with colourful designs and unchecked purity has made it a household item.

Sweetening it with yet more poisonous sweeteners has gripped the young and the old alike, the health care providers observed, adding that it had caused an alarming increase in the incidence rates of mouth cancer, especially in the young generation.

Referring to a recent survey conducted at different hospitals in the city, the doctors mentioned that of the 425 patients suffering from submucous fibrosis, more than 100 were below 18 years of age, while the youngest of them was only ten-year-old.

They also mentioned that 91 of those patients were totally unable to open up their mouths more than a centimetre, while seven of the patients were those who were less than 16 years old.

The doctors claimed that the submucous fibrosis condition was not only turning the treatment job difficult for them but also increasing the medical bills.—APP