Rapid rise in dengue cases a concern in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A rapid rise in dengue cases is leading to health concerns among residents, as private and government hospitals are reporting at least four to five cases of dengue per day per hospital, of late.

Fever Hospital superintendent Dr K. Shankar told Deccan Chronicle, “We recorded around 100 dengue cases in August and around 30 cases till now for September. We are seeing 500-600 fever patients in the OP (outpatient ward) and four to five dengue cases on a daily basis”.

Dr Venkatesh Billakanti, senior consultant physician (internal medicine), said that he was treating 12 to 16 dengue patients daily over the past five to six weeks and the frequency was increasing of late.

Explaining the common symptoms, he said, “High fever typically lasts two to seven days, with severe headache, often behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, fatigue and weakness, nausea and vomiting, skin rash (two-five days after the onset of fever), mild bleeding in nose or gum, and abdominal pain are the symptoms of dengue infection. There is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue fever. Treatment mainly focuses on relieving symptoms and providing supportive care.”

Dr Shiva Raju K., head of medicine department, KIMS Hospital, said that cases spiked over the past three weeks and along with the rising cases, the severity of the infection was a major concern in 20-30 per cent of patients.

“The number of hospitalisations is increasing. We are seeing a lot of young patients who have low platelet count and liver infections. At the same time, hospitalisation duration and recovery period has also been prolonged to more than a week in some patients, which is usually three-four days. We also need to be extra careful as the festive season is approaching, during which viral infections also see a surge due to huge crowds, which affects the immunity,” said Dr Shiva.

Doctors also advised people with comorbidities of heart, kidney, diabetes and vitamin deficiency to be more careful and seek treatment at an early stage.

Dr Sivaranjani Santosh, senior consultant paediatrician, debunking the myth around dengue, said, “There is no mystery virus causing cough, cold and fever, as suspected, and there is no new variant of dengue in circulation. We need to be aware and have the correct information on such serious issues. In case of dengue in children, I advise that since most cases are mild, parents should control fever with paracetamol, maintain good liquid intake, avoid aspirin and ibuprofen, etc. Be thorough with warning signs and hospitalise the child as needed.”

Symptoms of Dengue:

1. High fever (typically lasting 2-7 days)

2. Severe headache, often behind the eyes

3. Joint and muscle pain

4. Fatigue and weakness

5. Nausea and vomiting

6. Skin rash (usually appears 2-5 days after the onset of fever)

7. Mild bleeding (such as nose or gum bleeding)

8. Abdominal pain

Precautions:

1. Mosquito control

2. Use insect repellents

3. Wear protective clothing

4. Avoid mosquito bites

Treatment:

1. Supportive care: Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and providing supportive care.

2. Hospitalisation: Severe cases may require hospitalization for close monitoring, intravenous fluid replacement, and supportive measures. In rare cases, dengue fever can progress to a severe form called dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be life-threatening and may require intensive medical care.