Dengue Shock Syndrome cases widespread

Many more cases have been reported in other city hospitals. Adults too have reportedly contracted the viral disease.

Doctors explain that when a dengue patient’s condition worsens it leads to either Dengue Shock Syndrome (more prevelant in children) or Dengue Haemorrhage Fever. However, there have been cases where DSS has affected adults too.

For instance, two adults with DSS were admitted to K C General Hospital, last month. While one patient was treated and discharged, the other was referred to Victoria Hospital. “Currently, we have one patient, a female adult, suspected of DSS with us. We have sent the report to the Virology Department in Victoria Hospital for results,” said Dr Shivaprasad from KC General Hospital.

Meanwhile, St John’s Hospital had a 14-year-old male patient with DSS, last month. However, he was treated and discharged, said the hospital authorities. Similarly, Dr Govindraj, in-charge of Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health Hospital, said, “We treated two DSS patients last month. Their condition is okay now. Also there have been no deaths.”

He had mostly seen children between six months and 14 years of age contracting the DSS. The hospital is also regularly updating BBMP about Dengue cases. Even Apollo Hospital has seen two to three DSS cases. “Thankfully, he recovered and was discharged two months back,” said Dr S V Chowti, head of medicine, Mallya Hospital.

Dr Raviraj, residential medical officer, Lakeside Hospital, said that if patients were diagnosed of DSS, they were mostly referred to bigger hospitals. “When a person contracts Dengue Shock Syndrome, his platelet count comes down drastically. Now, we don’t have cell separator machine for generating platelets. As a result, if we admit a patient, who is in such a critical condition, it will cause inconvenience to him and us as we have to constantly go and buy the platelets, which will take time,” he said.
According to BBMP’s Deputy Commissioner Venkateshappa, there have been 36 dengue cases recorded from January 2009 till date.

Dengue cases

The season has also seen an increase in the dengue cases. “Although, there has been a rise in the dengue cases over the last three months, the increase this month is more,” says Dr Govindraj of Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health Hospital. The statistics of the patients over the last two months is also follows:

St John’s Hospital- 11 (May-June); 14 (between June 25 and July 7), Apollo Hospital - 5 (May); 3 (June); 3 (July), Mallya Hospital - 3 (till now) among adults, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health Hospital - 30 (From June 1 till July7) with 9 cases admitted on Wednesday and M S Ramaiah Memorial Hospital - 20 to 30 suspected (June); 12 suspected (July 1- July 7).