Rising dengue cases put healthcare under strain
The spike in dengue cases along with post-Covid-19 complications is straining the health care system and creating new treatment issues among patients and hospitals during the pandemic.
The state has over 3,000 cases of dengue, more than 700 dengue cases have been reported in the city. Children, adolescents and senior citizens are testing positive for Covid19 antibodies and dengue.
Pediatricians say many are reporting to hospitals with dengue and multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MISC). Stated Dr Altaf Naseem, "The MISC is because the affected child was an asymptomatic carrier of the virus. With the immune system attacking the body, we have to control the inflammation and also treat dengue.”
Dengue treatment requires a check for internal bleeding and fluid retention. There is mistreatment and wrong treatment due to which the severity is high and critical cases are being reported to tertiary hospitals.
The problem is improper diagnosis due to which the cases are going out of hand, doctors said.
Dr Madap Karuna, consultant pediatrician and researcher at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology said, "The protocols of dengue treatment are not being followed. The health department must ensure that physicians are following these properly. Instead of the blame-game, the concentration must be on saving children and adolescents who are the worst-affected. We are seeing a lot of adolescents from age 14 to 21 years, reporting to hospitals with severe symptoms."
Complications are being noted in terms of water retention in the body, low platelet count of less than
30,000 units and inflammation in the body.
Dr Mustufa Afzal, senior infectious disease specialist at Care Hospitals, esaid that high fever and body pain are the symptoms. The first test is for Covid19, and when that is negative, no further tests of dengue or malaria are done. When the condition deteriorates, patients are rushed to hospitals. We have a sizeable number of patients coming in, of late not only from districts but also from within the city. Dengue is widespread and that must be tested along with Covid -19."
While GHMC carried out extensive fogging operations, heavy rains over the fortnight have led to accumulation of fresh water. It has also been noted that plastic bags strewn on roads are retaining fresh water which helps the dengue virus-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes survive.
To control dengue mosquitoes, it is important to observe dry day once a week by clearing water around flower pot trays, animal feed bowls, and clearing clogged water from outside and around homes.