Bengaluru: Of 305 suspected dengue cases, some 157 confirmed cases have been reported by the State Health Department until June 24. With the rain, comes dengue. BBMP has reported 63 dengue cases this month and 106 since January. But hospital statistics show that these numbers are just a fraction of the actual cases.
“This month, every week there are 30-35 dengue admissions. If you compare this with last month you’ll find there were only 16-20 dengue cases. The numbers have increased considerably," adds Dr Manjunath, Consultant, Physician, Manipal Hospitals.
Forty-four dengue cases have been reported this month at Government-run Bowring Hospital and seven hospital admissions have taken place. "Dengue patients walk in at any one of three stages – the first is cold and cough, which can be contained, the second, hemorrhagic fever, and the last fatal stage is those who come in with septic shock," says Dr Prasanna Kumar, Resident Medical Officer of Bowring .
He says that prevention is the best cure for dengue. With the numbers increasing every year, it is evident that the current surveillance and prevention methods are not up to the mark. "This year dengue has become more resistant and difficult for doctors to manage. Many patients are going into complications directly and that's why we have to admit them quickly. There are 5-6 dengue admissions daily,” adds Dr Manjunath.
“Dengue is higher among children, diabetics, those with hypertension and obesity. In the past one week we have been seeing at least one dengue patient per day. These numbers are sure to shoot up when the rains start. Which is why it is important that people should know how to prevent dengue," explains Dr Pavan Mangalore, Consultant, Emergency Medicine, Columbia Asia Referral Hospital, Yeshwanthpur.
He says that for the past one week they have treated some 10-15 cases, of which seven were admitted. "It is now difficult to even get a bed," adds Dr Pavan.
Dr Murali Kumar, chief of casualty, Chinmaya Mission Hospital, adds that the actual incidence of dengue cases are higher than the number reported. "The numbers are high and some concrete measures need to be taken," adds Dr Murali Kumar.
Till now, there have been no fatalities from dengue. Meanwhile, BBMP asserts that steps are being taken to get the numbers down. "We have intensified our dengue prevention measures in all the wards of BBMP. Fogging is being done, as prevention is better than cure," says Dr Naveen, BBMP project coordinator for National Vector-borne Disease Control Programme.
