Medicos aid staff in treating dengue

Additional beds arranged; six more suspected cases reported from D Salundi

To cope with the increasing number of suspected dengue cases, the district administration has made provision for additional beds at the primary health centre at Jayanagar and PKTB Sanatorium on KRS road in the city.

Dr B Krishnamurthy medical superintendent and HoD, paediatrics of Cheluvamba Children’s Hospital told Deccan Herald, the newly opened PHC at Jayanagar has 50 beds, while at the sanatorium 20 beds are reserved for treating such cases.

What has come in handy in treating dengue cases at the hospital, according to the doctor, is interns and post-graduate students. Both graduates (who are called as interns for doing house surgeon course for a year after completing their graduation) and post-graduates of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC and RI) under which Cheluvamba Hospital functions, are working round the clock in shifts.

Around 16 PGs, 18 interns are working along with 14 staff including the medical superintendent.

The doctor agreed to the fact there is scarcity of beds for dengue cases, as Cheluvamba Hospital also treats children with other health complaints like pneumonia and diarrhoea.

Of the total 120 beds, 20 are reserved for neonatal centre and nutritional rehabilitation centre, while 54 among the remaining 100 beds are already occupied by suspected dengue patients. It includes, four children admitted at paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Among them, one was diagnosed serious, but out of danger. Similarly, another who was considered critical on Tuesday, has shown signs of improvement on Wednesday, the doctor said.

At ward one, among the total 16 cases, seven were discharged later in the day, while at ward two   eight of the total 11 cases are considered positive. At ward three, among the total 18 cases, 15 are positive. Apart from improving the platelet counts ( actual range should be above 1.2 lakh counts) in the positive cases, efforts are being made to see to it that the vital organs are not affected.

The doctor allayed fears that, every body ache could turn out to be dengue as it is a common symptom in all the viral fevers.

Six more suspected cases

Adding to the increasing number of suspected dengue cases, six among many persons diagnosed at the make-shift hospital at dengue hit D Salundi village, on Wednesday were referred to Mysore hospitals. Among them, two are adults, while the remaining are children most prone to the virus in the recent past. Two each belong to Dhangalli, Mullur and Gopalpura located in the vicinity of D Salundi.

While four children were admitted to Cheluvamba Hospital, the adults are undergoing treatment at K R Hospital. Dr B G Sagar medical superintendent of K R Hospital said, three suspected cases were admitted at the hospital on Wednesday. Of the 22 suspected cases in dengue ward, 13 are positive.

Highest of 16 were admitted on May 27 and six of them are positive, followed by 11 cases seven positive on May 28 and 11 cases, three positive on May 29. The district has recorded 174 suspected cases, with 14 positive cases, according to district health officer Dr S M Malegowda.