The BMC may still be in denial mode, but data analysed by a leading private insurance company shows that dengue has topped the list of infectious diseases in terms of insurance claims in the city. Even more startling is the fact that dengue claims have seen a phenomenal rise of 96 per cent in 2013 as compared to a 30 per cent increase in 2012.
"The share of dengue claims received from Mumbai has been consistently increasing over the years. While in 2011 close to 5 per cent of the total infectious claims received from Mumbai were related to dengue, the share increased to 8 per cent in 2012 and to 13 per cent of the overall infectious claims in 2013," said Amit Bhandari, vice-president, Health Underwriting and Claims, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited.
As per ICICI Lombard's claims data, more than 50 per cent dengue-related claims are reported in the October – December quarter. The frequency of incidence rates increases in the October to December Quarter. Dengue claims reported in 2013 increased exponentially as compared to 2012. While it increased by 91 per cent among men, among women the rise was of 103 per cent.
The maximum number of claims (close to 40 per cent) were received from people within the age group of 26 to 35 years, followed by a younger age group of 16 to 25 years, which is also reflecting an increase in its overall share of claims every corresponding year. The second leading infectious disease was fever and common infections (19 per cent) followed by respiratory tract infections (18 per cent) and acute gastroentritis (15 per cent).
Infectious disease experts and intensivists say that most dengue admissions are more out of fear than necessity. Dr Khusrav Bhajan, intensivist at PD Hinduja Hospital said, "All dengue positive patients don't require hospital admission. It is the high incidence of dengue in the city and the fear that has led people and doctors to admit almost every dengue patient. There is also an overuse of platelets."
Dr Bhajan explained that dengue patients with just fever and a platelet count of 1-1.5 lakh with no complications like low blood pressure, respiratory problem etc., can be managed on an OPD basis.
Dr Om Srivastava, director, department of infectious diseases, Jaslok Hospital, said that around 13-20 per cent dengue cases will require hospitalisation. "A simple low platelet count in a dengue patient is not an indication for hospitalisation. However, if the low platelet count is combined with bleeding probability, has underline conditions, co-morbid factors, then admission is required," said Dr Srivastava.
"Earlier it was a manageable condition which at the most required 4-5 days hospitalisation in some cases. Now, it is common to see dengue patients admitted for more than 5 days as there are co-infections, co-morbid or pre-disposed conditions where treatment time will be longer," said Dr Srivastava.
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