Dengue cases resurface in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Coimbatore has been witnessing an increase in the number of dengue and viral infection cases over the last three weeks, doctors said.
Though not all had been confirmed as dengue cases, doctors said clinical symptoms pointing to the illness was adequate proof.
“In our ward, presently, there are three patients with dengue and some others who are suffering from symptoms, pointing to the same,” said Dr A Jaleel Ahmed, a paediatrician at G Kuppusamy Naidu Hospital.
“There is a sudden surge in the number of such cases that is accompanied with high fever, body pain and fatigue,” he said.
Doctors said they were not waiting to serologically confirm probable dengue cases because the NS1 test available now only checks for antibodies, which are produced only two days after the infection manifests.
“The World Health Organisation has issued guidelines that doctors can diagnose and treat patients for dengue on clinical basis,” said Dr Ahmed.
“We have been advised to admit patients showing clinical symptoms of dengue with warning signs like shock or bleeding,” he added.
Doctors said the number of viral fever and cold cases in the city had also risen. “We see 150 to 200 patients a day, of which 90% come in with fever. Again, 90% of them suffer from viral infections,” said Dr D Dhandapani, who runs Balaji Hospitals in Sundarapuram.
“It usually begins with a sore or itchy throat and progresses to a runny nose and a full blown cold. Sometimes, the fever is accompanied by body pain,” he added.
“We usually treat them with a mild antibiotic, paracetamol and other mild medicines for body pain or cold,” said Dr Dhandapani.
Doctors said increase in fever cases during this time of the year is common due to the NE monsoons that are accompanied with the winds carrying airborne infections. “This year it has set in late. It usually sets in as early as July,” he added.
While viral infections are difficult to prevent, public health authorities are taking efforts to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria.
“We are being very cautious about water stagnation and mosquito breeding sources in private and public buildings. It is proven that control of mosquito population directly leads to the number of cases falling. We are adopting the same strategy,” said a senior public health department official.