Dengue on the rise, BBMP unfazed

BANGALORE: A month ago, Kavitha (name changed), staying near Sarjapur Road, was elated to learn she was pregnant. But early this week, the 25-year-old had to abort the baby after she was diagnosed with dengue. It was her first pregnancy but doctors had no choice. "Her parents also had dengue-like symptoms and were under treatment. Even if Kavitha's baby had survived, there were chances of deformities due to dengue in the gestation period," said Dr M J Jayakanth, consultant internal medicine, Apollo Hospital, Sarjapur Road.
Dengue has raised its ugly head in the city again with 300 cases in one hospital alone. But BBMP is yet to wake up. "There are only sporadic cases. This is no outbreak as such," said Dr M N Lokesh, health officer, south zone, BBMP.
Confirming a surge in the number of dengue-like cases coming to them in the past two weeks, Dr Girish P S, consultant physician, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, said, "We have 20 in-patients. Over 30 outpatients visit us daily with dengue-like symptoms. We are even getting cases from Chikkaballapur, Hindupur and other regions on the Andhra border, reflecting the spread of the disease."
Patients are showing symptoms like high fever, rashes and acute body pain. "When the temperature nears 101 degrees Celsius and the patient's platelet count declines to 80,000-1 lakh units, it's a warning sign," said Dr Jayakanth.
"In the last one month, we have seen about 300 cases. A minimum of 80 patients walk in with complaints of body ache, fever, rashes, sense of weakness every week. The pain is as though they are crushed under a roadroller. I am seeing cases in my family too," said Dr Sudarshan Ballal, medical director, Manipal Hospitals.
He said they are sending all medical records in suspected dengue cases to the BBMP. But the civic body has not stepped up its fogging and mosquito control measures. As per rules, only the government can declare dengue positive cases and hospitals are not authorized to do so, though symptomatic treatment can be given.
WHAT IS DENGUE?
Dengue is an infectious disease caused by a family of viruses transmitted by mosquito Aedes aegypti that breeds in fresh water. The symptoms include headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands, nausea and rash. Dengue can be diagnosed through blood test. Ideally, the number of platelets in the blood should be 1.5 lakh to 4.5 lakh per micro litre. In case of dengue, there will be a decline in the platelet count.
HOW TO WARD OFF INFECTION
*Drink boiled and cooled water
*Eat freshly cooked food. Those who eat food preserved in refrigerators more prone to infection
*Maintain personal hygiene
*Use mosquito repellants at home
*Avoid storing fresh water in open vessels