Hyderabad: In a worrisome development, paediatric wards in the Niloufer Hospital and the Government Area Hospital are full of children suffering from dengue as many of them are reporting multisystem organ failures due to dengue shock. Those in the age-group of 13 to 19 years are being affected in Old City, Ranga Reddy district and other areas of the state.
The children are reporting with high fever, bleeding, low blood pressure and low platelet count. A senior doctor at the Niloufer Hospital on condition of anonymity says, "Severity of dengue is the same as in 2019. There are severe cases with internal bleeding, shock and multisystem failures reporting to tertiary and area hospitals. These make the treatment very difficult and outcomes are poor."
In the last one week, area hospitals of Old City witnessed more than 10 deaths of children. Dr R. R. Kiran, senior paediatrician at Nampally, explains, "Fever is considered as a disease which occurs due to seasonal changes. With dengue prevalent, diagnosis at the first stage is important. When that is missed, cases become severe." Till September 10, dengue cases recorded were 3,144 by the state health department.
Experts state that there are missed and undetected numbers which are not taken into account.
Most of the deaths are allegedly not being recorded despite city health centres reporting severe cases of dengue. A senior health official on condition of anonymity says, "Follow-up is required after the identification of a case in the area carried out by the GHMC but people are not sensitised. There are stickers put on house doors and many times occupants remove them rather than reading them. Sensitisation requires making them aware that there is a dengue case and if children suffer from fever, they must report to government centres and get evaluated. This information to households is important but it is not being done and there is a rise in cases."
Weekly dry day schedule of drying pots, pans, water tanks, flower and animal pot trays is not being carried out by people.
