Dengue returns with more ferocity this season

This spike in diseases was just waiting to happen. The continuing rains have brought with it health woes unprecedented in scale. Since most areas in the city have borne the brunt of the downpour, pools of stagnant water are everywhere, doubling up as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Hospitals, both private and government have seen a surge in patients complaining of vector-borne diseases, particularly Dengue.

Narayanaswamy R, a resident of Kalyan Nagar, complained of high fever on September 30. Initially, he ignored the symptoms and thought it would cure with regular ayurvedic treatment which he is used to. Later, when his health condition deteriorated, he was rushed to the nearby hospital where doctors declared that he was down with Dengue.

He recalled, “My platelet count was down. I was in ICU for one day and finally, by god’s grace, my health came back to normalcy. But still, I have the weakness that will last for a few more days.”

Narayanaswamy is now more cautious about the cleanliness in the vicinity. He says, “Frequent fogging in the area should be done regularly to combat such diseases. Our resident welfare association is coordinating with the BBMP workers to get the area fumigated at least once a week. Also, people should take initiatives to keep the area litter-free and be wary about the clogged spots in the neighbourhood.”

Lohithakshan K V, a resident of NRI Layout near Ramamurth Nagar is another victim of Dengue. He was bedridden for almost a week. He says, “Suffering from Dengue was a nightmarish experience for me. The weakness still continues in my body. My platelet count was really low. The doctors had to do the blood tranfusion.”

The hospital was flooded with other Dengue patients. “My family members did not have any knowledge about the procedure. So they were horrified with the experience. The awareness from the BBMP is very minimal about preventing dengue,” he says. Corporators of every area should proactively ensure that the disease is kept at bay. “Even the fumigation is hardly done in our area. A dedicated team should work to keep track of the fogging operations.”

Dr Girish Krishna, a who runs the Champaka Clinic in B Narayanapura, is shocked to see three to four patients visiting him with fever every day. High fever, severe headache, joint pain, muscle and bone pain, and skin rashes are prominent symptoms of Dengue. “Compared to last year, the number of cases has increased this year,” he informs.

“Out of 40-45 patients per day I attend to, 2-3 cases turn out to be of Dengue. This is an alarming statistic. The government should take preventive measures to tackle the issue. BBMP should provide basic health amenities and it should be upgraded on a timely basis,” he says.

Dr Krishna clarifies that mosquitoes breed on fresh stored water. He says, “Water stored for more than two days should be removed. Dengue is mostly seen in middle and lower-middle class families since they depend on stored water.”