Hyderabad: Confirmation of dengue is possible only with ELISA test and not the NSI antigen tests conducted by private hospitals, which typically scare patients and result in commencement of blood platelet treatment for those having symptoms of dengue virus.
Platelet treatment is costly. It also means that the patient has to stay in hospital for a long period of time leading to increased hospital bills.
Blood transfusion according to experts must be carried out only when the platelet count is less than 10,000.
Government health officers claim that platelet treatment is often started without confirming dengue and only recording that it is falling. A senior health officer of the district medical and health department explained, “ELISA test is important to confirm dengue but it is not done. Once test is done, officers visit the patient and their family members. They also visit their home for fumigation process. They check the treatment protocols and in many cases it has been found that the platelet treatment is carried out first and information shared later.”
As the disease scares relatives, the issue of whether the platelet treatment is actually required is not understood. But general physician Dr Anish Anand of Apollo Hospitals said, “It would be wrong to recommend waiting till dengue is confirmed. Once a patient comes with symptoms mimicking dengue, treatment begins. If the blood platelets are falling one can’t wait for the health officer to certify. Also, there is no specific drug or treatment of dengue. It is symptomatic and differs from patient to patient.”
Private hospitals in turn claim that the government has not come up with any system to notify dengue cases. Health officials on the other hand say that when high numbers are present panic is being created in society.
