Chennai: The coming North East monsoon is likely to lash the city with vengeance bringing with it loads of water and many viral infections too. Monsoons invariably unleash severe viral infections - both air and water borne and fevers like Dengue. The time is right for the people to take adequate precautions against the stormy health issues ahead and for their part, the doctors should follow the WHO protocol on Dengue, opines Dr. P. Kuganantham, an expert on public health and communicable diseases.
The high humidity during monsoon is the perfect time for waterborne diseases to thrive. “There is no specific medicine to treat Dengue except Paracetamol to reduce the fever.
Doctors should be geared up to tackle the cases and strictly follow the WHO protocol on handling Dengue, which is on the decline,” claims Dr. P. Kuganantham. This former City Health Officer says Brufen and Aspirin should not be given to the Dengue infected. Such patients require sufficient rest and administered oral fluids or ORS.
“Not all cases require platelet transfusion. Decreased blood platelet count and blood plasma leakage occurs in complicated cases. The platelets should be given only when there is a bleeding tendency in the patients. In Dengue, the viral toxins affect the system and plasma along with platelets get reduced. Once the viral toxicity is reduced all the plasma and platelets get into the blood. The doctor should not be anxious to infuse platelets. What is required is complete rest, fluid replacement for the patients,” he advises.
Dengue or Chikungunya, though caused by mosquitoes, are not the exclusive problems of the government or civic authorities. People and residents’ associations should take steps to ensure mosquitoes don’t breed in their houses, he argues.
The sudden showers are likely to cause malaria, diarrhea, jaundice, hepatitis, leptospirosis and typhoid. Sometimes, diseases like rotavirus, skin infections, especially fungal infections between the toes and food or water contamination too could cause problems. There are many ways to prevent viral infections. He recommends that people drink boiled water, eat freshly cooked food and frequently wash their hands to prevent contracting viral infections. “Vegetables kept under refrigeration and sea food should be cleaned properly before being cooked,” Dr Kuganantham added.
