Beware, dengue is back

The mosquito-borne dengue fever, which claimed 15 lives and affected more than 860 people in the city last year, has struck early this monsoon. The hospitals in the city are registering 2-3 cases on an average on a daily basis. At least three resident doctors from LTMG Sion Hospital alone were treated for dengue in the last two weeks.

"All the three doctors are now recuperating," said a doctor from Sion Hospital adding that "it is strange to see dengue cases in June." Last year, the state witnessed a 22 percent rise in the number of dengue cases between January and October, compared to the previous year. A resident doctor from KEM Hospital too had succumbed to dengue, last year.

Dr Khusrav Bhajan, intensivist, PD Hinduja hospital, said, "I am admitting 3-4 dengue patients every day. It is very early for dengue cases." Bhajan said unlike earlier dengue cases representations, the patients are getting low white blood cells (WBC) counts instead of low platelet counts. "Initial 3-4 days since the onset of the disease, the patient's WBC is dropping. This exposes the patient to secondary infections. It is only after the third or fourth day that the platelet sees a drop," said Dr Bhajan.

Doctors say that early monsoon dengue cases are an indication that the disease is now endemic and cannot be associated with a particular time of the season. "Dengue cases are generally seen in August and September but now we see it in late summer and early monsoon. People with high grade fever, body and stomach ache, rashes shouldn't delay in consulting a doctor and they should get diagnosed for dengue," said Dr Manjusha Agarwal, general physician, Global Hospitals.

Echoing Dr Agarwal, Dr Pratit Samdhani, physician from Jaslok hospital said pre-monsoon showers in the city could be one reason behind dengue outbreak. "Most of them are mild to moderate and doesn't require admission. In last one week, I have seen 5-6 cases out of which one required hospitalisation."

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has already issued guidelines to all hospitals and blood banks on judicious use of platelets and go in for transfusion only if the platelet count go below 10,000 and coagulopathy.

As a word of precaution, health experts have warned people from self medication. Dr Om Srivastava, infectious disease consultant in South Mumbai said, "Self medication should be strictly avoided. Medicines like aspirin that can interfere with the platelet functioning should be avoided."