Bengaluru: “There is a huge surge in dengue cases, mostly among the adolescent group, because their immunity is low and they react strongly to the virus,” informs Dr Chikkanarasappa Reddy, Assistant Professor of Paediatrics, Bowring Hospital, which witnesses some forty dengue cases out of the hundred out-patients every day. “Daily some 15-20 patients also require admission,” adds Dr Reddy, who says that of the four common dengue strains, Dengue virus type 2 is more common.
“This virus is often seen, is more severe and comes with eye pain, body ache, joint pain and high fever, exhaustion and inability to walk,” adds Dr Reddy. The situation holds true at most of the hospitals across the city, which are inundated with dengue fever cases and dengue-like illnesses. With the health department reporting 787 positive dengue cases, the dreaded dengue virus seems to be winning over all possible methods that the State health department is using to tackle its spread.
“We have witnessed almost 40-50 admissions because of dengue in the last three months with almost 8 patients requiring ventilator support at the ICU,” informs Dr Vishwanath Veeranna, Director-in charge, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH). He adds “Shockingly, in the month of June the hospital witnessed 587 dengue and dengue-like cases, of which 240 were positive dengue cases.”
There seems to be too much going on for the BBMP to control the vector-borne disease. But health experts don’t want city dwellers to have a negative attitude towards the ailment and are issuing warnings to look out for the key signs to catch the deadly dengue from the time of its inception. Health experts also suggest that because the virus strains have mutated and conventional diagnostic tools and methods are not enough, prevention is the only armour against dengue.
“Previously, dengue was a seasonal virus but now it has become a pandemic virus by being present throughout the year. It is an issue of public health importance,” informs Dr Diwakar TN, Associate Professor of medicine at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital. He also throws light on another key aspect which makes tackling the virus difficult. “So far the trends and techniques which are conventional were directed towards 4 types of virus strains. In 2013, a fifth strain has come out, with new strains which demand that the diagnosis and techniques or methodology be upgraded.”
Symptoms
- Dengue fever usually starts suddenly with a rapidly climbing high fever, that’s why the temperature in dengue fever is called a ‘saddleback’ type temperature
- Severe headaches
- Pain behind the eye
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Swelling and pain in muscles and joints
- The joint pain in the body
No drug or vaccine to combat fever
“Sadly, there is no drug or vaccination to treat or immunize people from dengue and all the hospitals administer symptomatic treatments for dengue. Most crucial is the need to hydrate the patients constantly either through IV fluids or orally,” adds Dr Reddy. He says that out of the nine ICU beds at Bowring, three dengue patients are on ventilator support, while the other six are on basic monitoring.
Dr K.N. Manjunath, Consultant Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Vikram Hospital, says, “I see 3-5 patients at any given time with dengue and another 3-5 that have dengue-like fever and almost 70% of them require admission.” Sharing his concern as a doctor in the city treating dengue, Dr Manjunath adds, “The worst part about dengue is that the disease affects every part of the body and the patients develop shock in the first week. Shock syndrome can lead to multiple organ failure.”
Speaking about the main problems, Dr Manjunath warns, “A lot of hydration of the body is very important. And also people do not need to panic when it comes to a decrease in platelet count. WHO recommends that there is cause for concern only if the platelet count drops below ten thousand. 98 per cent of the time patients do not require platelet treatment and low platelets don't cause death unless they are bleeding from some place.”
“If the count is less than 20,000 we consider transfusion. We can wait till the count is 20,000 because then the chances of bleeding will be higher. Drop in platelet count should not be a cause of worry for anxious families,” assures Dr Diwakar.
Tulsi, papaya to the rescue!
People are not only popping in tablets to get cured of dengue. Some are also taking recourse to Ayurveda. Another ayurvedic medicine used by people for treatment of dengue fever is tulsi (holy basil). According to experts medicinal properties of tulsi are very useful in ayurvedic therapy. The leaves of tulsi are used to produce soothing effect on the nervous system. Tulsi leaves strengthen the stomach and induce copious perspiration. Also, another tablet called ‘Caripill’ which is Carica Papaya Leaf extract tablet is being used in plenty by people to cure themselves of dengue.
City faces shortage of single donor platelets
“One of my friends who had dengue had called me frantically for help as his platelet count dropped to 9000,” says Danny, a city-based artiste who recalls the horror of getting his friend platelets. “It was a nightmare as I had a hard time arranging platelets for him. I started running from one blood bank to another,” says Danny, who was shocked when he called one of the city-based blood banks where the receptionist quite straightforwardly told him that he was busy and asked him to call later. Sharing the voice recording with DC, Danny adds, “I was shocked when he asked me to call him later as he was busy, to which I responded saying that I might lose a friend who needed O positive blood.”
Unfortunately, the platelets could not be arranged on time and Danny decided to donate his own blood to save his friend. “His platelet count is 90,000 and he is safe now,” says Danny, heaving a sigh of relief. Danny is not the only one who has faced an uphill task in arranging for platelets.
City dwellers are facing similar problems in getting platelets for dengue patients. “A single platelet donation can provide enough platelets for a full therapeutic dose, but getting a Apheresis (single donor) platelets is a problem because there is shortage of single donor platelets,” informs Dr Diwakar TN, Associate Professor of medicine at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital. He agrees that there is a shortage of single donor platelets.
Speaking about the platelet shortage, Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council, Director, SG Raveendra hastens to reassure with, “The situation is not that grim. Our council is looking into these aspects and assessing the situation. We are regularly conducting meetings with blood banks, private hospitals and hence there is a co-ordinated effort to tackle the issue.”
The director informs that the executive committee of Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council has issued a circular which requires no private hospital to charge more than Rs 11,000 for single-donor (apheresis) platelets. “Any complaints of gullible patients being overcharged would be strictly acted upon by the health department,” sums up Raveendra.
