Epidemics tighten grip, BBMP finally wakes up

Bengaluru: The continuous downpour coupled with garbage menace has choked the city with epidemics. Not just residents of low-lying areas or slum dwellers, even residents of core areas are falling prey to the deadly disease. Though the BBMP should have taken measures like spraying chemicals at garbage black spots, it has washed its hands off saying ‘ending the garbage menace is our focus’.

However, following the increase in dengue complaints this month, the lackadaisical agency has now planned to launch a massive campaign across the city. In a first step towards this, it has roped in corporators and local leaders to spread the message on dengue prevention.

BBMP Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vatsala said that in Moodalpalya ward, the campaign was already launched and the BBMP was guiding citizens on garbage segregation.

“We want to eliminate the primary cause for all epidemic breakout and we have sought the help of other departments. Not just Health department officials, even environmental engineers and ward engineers need to knock on every house in their ward and our aim is to tell people to protect themselves from the epidemic,” she said.

Commenting about the continuous rains and epidemic outbreak in the city, Dr. Naveen, another BBMP official, maintained that though dengue cases had reduced between September and October, November could be slightly damaging.

He said, “The peak number of cases is registered between June and August. The next two months were dry and there was nothing much to worry. Also, there was no garbage menace in those months. But, in the last three weeks, the rains have increased and the menace has intensified. This month we could see more cases.”

So far, the BBMP has registered 1,026 confirmed cases of dengue in its hospitals. The doctors urged the citizens to use only hot water for cooking and drinking purposes and keep the houses clean.

Health experts fear rise in dengue patients

Dengue fever which causes considerable morbidity and mortality in the city is again worrying doctors who fear that the numbers might increase again, as rains continue to lash the city.

“BBMP should fill up potholes right away as the city is endemic and dengue virus never leaves the area. Hence, attempt should be made to prevent mosquitoes to breed anywhere. People should also try and keep their surroundings clean and ensure that tanks, coolers and other containers lying empty are not filled with water after these rains," stresses Dr KN Manjunath, Consultant Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Vikram Hospital which is witnessing lesser cases of dengue but predicting an increase after rains again. Dr Manjunath adds, “These numbers which have come down for the time being will rise again if proper care is not taken to contain water accumulations.”

“Monsoons are back and it has brought back the dreaded D for dengue fever with a vengeance. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. This is transmitted by the vector Aedes mosquito which prefers to breed in clean stagnant water in and around our homes. Dengue fever is very common India and Southeast Asia. Cases are common during monsoons as the environmental conditions favour the breeding of the mosquito carrying the virus,” says Dr Sagorika Mullick, Chief Medical Officer at the family doctor clinic network.

Dr Shankar V, MD (Internal Medicine) Manipal Hospital Malleswaram and Apollo hospital Sheshadripuram who has treated more than thousands of dengue patients this season advises that patients should not go into panic mode. “As long as your platelet levels are maintained, dengue fever cannot be a major complication. It can only pose problems to the high-risk groups and people with other complications,” he adds.

“After you've recovered from dengue fever, you have immunity to the virus that infected you — but not to the other three dengue fever viruses. The risk of developing severe dengue fever, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, actually increases if you're infected a second, third or fourth time. Prevention is the only key to save yourself from this dreaded disease,” sums up Dr Mullick.

Symptoms  

Symptoms usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days, may include:

• Sudden, high fever
• Severe headaches
• Pain behind the eyes
• Severe joint and muscle pain  
• Fatigue  
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Skin rash, which appears two to five days after the onset of fever
• Mild bleeding (such a nose bleed, bleeding gums, or easy bruising)

Treatment

There is no specific medicine to treat dengue infection. If you think you may have dengue fever, you should use pain relievers with acetaminophen and avoid medicines with aspirin, which could
worsen bleeding. Drink plenty of fluids, and see your doctor. If you start to feel worse in the first 24 hours after your fever goes down, you should get to a hospital immediately to be checked for
complications.

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