Hyderabad: Government hospitals are seeing about 50 new cases of dengue every day, and private hospitals are getting 10 to 15 patients, both adults and children, showing that the dengue crisis is still persisting.
Hospitals say that dengue tests are showing positive in 20 to 30 per cent of patients reporting with fever, joint pain and fatigue. Ten per cent of the cases are of chikungunya and scrub typhus.
Hyderabad, Khammam, Mahbubnagar and Nagarkurnool are the worst affected with dengue, according to sources in the health department. There are stated to be about 4,000 cases of dengue in the state.
The cases are increasing due to waterlogging in and around homes and construction sites after the rain earlier this week, providing space for the denuge-carrying Aedis mosquito to breed.
Dr T. Pavan Reddy, senior general physician, said about five cent of dengue cases are severe. The rest can be managed at home.
Most of the difficult cases are referred to the government at the last minute, as family are not able to afford expensive private care. Doctors at the government-run Niloufer Hospital say that in very severe and critical cases, there is very little treatment that they can offer.
The out-patient departments of government tertiary and area hospitals and public health centres registered a sharp rise in fever cases this month, and the trend is continuing on the back of incessant rains and flooding.
A senior government doctor said that the extended rains mean that seasonal diseases will continue in October too.
Dr Rahul Agarwal, senior general physician at Medicover Hospitals, said, "Apart from children we are seeing adults reporting with dengue. They are coming with symptoms of pain in the joints and very high fever. Most of the cases are mild but in those who are immune-compromised there is hospitalisation and treatment is prolonged.”
She said that since viral fever is self-limiting, proper rest, food, water and medicines help in early recovery in mild cases.
