Relief from the scorching summer heat is shortlived, for it comes with a cost in the form of dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and of course viral fever. As if the swine flu fear plaguing Bangaloreans is not bad enough, they now have to deal with the confusing symptoms of all four diseases.
The symptoms of chikungunya, dengue and viral fever appear similar and diagnosis is very difficult unless lab investigations are done.
“We are getting around 600 to 800 cases of viral fever every day. Few are cases of chikungunya and dengue but we can confirm that only after lab investigations.
However, while reports come after a week, most patients are already treated by then on an outpatient basis,” said Dr K Nagraj,medical superintendent, Jayanagar Corporation Hospital. The hospital has 240 beds at present, of which over 80% is filled by cases of viral fever.
Last month, around five cases of dengue were treated here but none are reported as of now.
Manipal Hospital alone has received around 24 cases of Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) in the past two weeks. Patients with DSS have been admitted to the emergency ward of the hospital.
But what is DSS? “The severity of dengue fever may range from mild fever to various other symptoms. When the patient suffers from low platelet count and bleeding, it is called dengue haemorrhage fever. If this is followed by fall in blood pressure level, it is known as DSS. However, a patient can have DSS without having these symptoms as well,” said Dr Meera Ramakrishnan, consultant, pediatric emergency. Her cases range between eight and 16 years of age.
“Until now, 288 cases of chikungunya and 36 cases of dengue has been reported in the city. Intensive spraying and fogging is implemented in the affected or the vulnerable areas,” said Dr LT Gayathri, chief health officer, BBMP.
Health officers have also been visiting the areas where positive cases are detected and intensive spraying is being done around the residences of affected patients. “We get at least 20 new cases of chikungunya every day. They are mainly treated on an out-patient basis,” said Dr M Vishwaradhya, medical superintendent, KC General Hospital.
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