Cases of dengue fever increasing in City

Mobile squads in Assembly segments to check spread of epidemic outbreak

The number of suspected cases visiting major Government hospitals has also gone up, making it difficult for the doctors to handle the sudden flow.

Five patients, who tested positive with dengue fever, were recently being admitted at the KC General Hospital in Malleswaram. A doctor working at the OPD (Out-patient department) is finding it difficult to handle close to 40 suspected patients a day. 

He says, "First it was chikungunya, and now dengue fever. The problem with dengue is that the symptoms are severe, and could also be fatal if not treated on time".

KC General has reported 30 positive cases of chikungunya lately, and now prepared to attend to dengue fever.

23 cases

At the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, the story is not different; RMO of the Hospital Dr S Rajannna says that there have been 23 cases tested positive with Dengue fever in his hospital. "Nearly 8-10 suspected cases visit Browing every day with symptoms of Dengue fever," Dr Rajanna said.

It is not just adults but even children are being affected by this viral fever.  Medical Superintendent of Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health Dr M Govindaraj said that nearly 50-60 suspected cases had come to them, and 30 children had tested positive for dengue fever.

Ironically, when Joint Director (M&F) Malaria & Filaria, Director of Health & Family Services Dr Heena Raikar was approached for the latest statistics on the number of Dengue fever patients, Dr Raikar said that as per their latest records received from different hospitals for the last six months, they have only 23 patients tested positive with dengue fever.

But in reality, each government hospital in the City has tested at least 20 patients positive with dengue fever.

Dengue can be fatal

Though the symptoms of dengue fever are similar to that of chikungunya, the fever is quite severe in case of dengue which could also be fatal. 

Unlike chikungunya patients who get cured after a period of time, a patient tested positive with dengue fever will have to get admitted in hospital.

Symptoms

A dengue patient will be provided with Intravenous (IV) fluids to prevent dehydration and platelet transfusion is indicated if the platelet level drops below 1 lakh count.

Dr Raikar further appealed to the suspected patients that if they are suffering from fever for more than four days, then visiting authorised doctor, private or government hospital is a must.  It is advisable to go through the required test for dengue fever.

Mobile squad

Meanwhile Minister in-charge of Bangalore Katta Subramanya Naidu on Thursday said BBMP would introduce a mobile squad each in an Assembly constituency, to check spread of contagious diseases.

The minister said mobile squads would start functioning from Saturday. The squad will look after fogging in all localities and attend to patients suffering from contagious diseases. The Palike commissioner had instructed officials to take all measures to curtail the spread of diseases.

Reacting to Congress leaders’ comments on the State government’s Manthana in a resort, the minister said it was the Congress which started holding meetings in resorts.

The first prime minister Nehru held a meeting of all the chief ministers in Shimla. The Congress leaders had kept this tradition going when in power, he alleged.