Mystery fever baffles doctors

Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation remains clueless, the mystery fever which affects the liver and has clinical symptoms of dengue is claiming victims in Borivli.

Doctors are confused about how to treat the fever as the symptoms are similar to urinary tract infection and kidney stone, besides many patients having tested negative to dengue and malaria.

With at least two members in a family falling prey to the disease, the doctors say it is definitely a cause of concern but fail to recognise one particular disease. “I am seeing at least 5 to 10 cases with symptoms of high fever, dropping platelets, rising WBC count, swelling. We are going for symptomatic treatment,” said Dr Sunil Kotkar, general physician practicing in Borivli east.

Sayli S, an engineering student living in Borivli west’s IC Colony, is one of the several people suffering from the disease.

“It has been three weeks. I have lower back ache and vomiting. It started with shivering fever. My father too got the symptoms a few days back. My doctor tested me for urinary tract infection, kidney stone also. My WBC counts were high and there was a drop in the platelets counts,” said Sayli who is now recovering but is still weak.

Like Sayli, Pushpa Hasbe, a resident of Shivajinagar, Borivali west said, “Three of my family members are down with the disease. Doctors are not telling us what it is. There have burning sensation while passing urine too. Doctors thought it could be UTI.”

The rest of the city is also suffereing from the same symptoms but not as grievous as those in Borivli. Dr Subodh Kedia, general physician from Bandra said, “There is lot of fluctuation in weather. This is an ideal time for virus to grow and mutate. Since no study has been done, it is difficult to predict what it is. General physicians are aware of the cases and we are all going for symptomatic treatment.”

Dr Arun Bamne, executive health officer, BMC said, “It is viral and nothing to do with dengue and hepatitis. Our medicine departments of three medical colleges are working on it.”