1,500 admitted with suspected dengue in 11 days
Dengue
MUMBAI: City hospitals are admitting over hundred patients for dengue or flu-like illnesses every day, though Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) statistics don’t seem to corroborate that.
Civic records showed that in the first 11 days of September, over 1,500 were admitted with suspected dengue at civic hospitals. Only 1,600 dengue patients were admitted throughout August, and the surge in the last week across the city is apparent.
“Manydoctors are registering double-digit admissions due to dengue on a single day,’’ said senior medical consultant, Dr Hemant Thacker, who is attached to five hospitals in south Mumbai.
“The situation arising out of dengue is bad, with many hospitals running full only because of panic among patients,’’ said Dr Thacker.
Consider the 50-beddedDisha Hospital on Asalfa Road, Ghatkopar, where 48 of those hospitalised have dengue. “Dengue seems to be as common as common flu,” said Dr Amol Manerkar from Disha Hospital, adding that the incidence has increased “eight to nine fold” in the last one week.
Physician Dr M K Dave fromKaruna Hospital said she is treating a minimum of 10 dengue cases daily.
Dr Manerkar too said people get “hyper” on receiving the dengue diagnosis and insist on hospitalisation. “There is more panic in the air than reality in the body,” said Dr Thacker. He estimates that 25% hospitalisations could be a reaction to panic. “People don’t seem to realise that if they stay home, take rest, paracetamol and plenty of water, they will be fine,” said Dr Thacker. Only patients with a comorbidity such as diabetes or weakened kidney function should be extra cautious.
BMC’s executive health officer Dr Padmaja Keskar said most cases were reported from Byculla, Sandhurst Road, Bhandup, Malad, Byculla and Parel. “We usually see a peak in October though cases start coming in from August,” she added.
Civic records showed that in the first 11 days of September, over 1,500 were admitted with suspected dengue at civic hospitals. Only 1,600 dengue patients were admitted throughout August, and the surge in the last week across the city is apparent.
“Many
The hospitalisation pattern at Bhatia Hospital, Tardeo, underlines the worsening of the ‘outbreak’. A hospital spokesperson said Bhatia had seen 38 admissions in July, 139 in August and 92 in the first fortnight of September. At Jaslok in Pedder Road, there have been 47 admissions since August. “Overall, nearly 70 complicated dengue cases have been treated here since August,” said CEO Dr Tarang Gianchandani.
“The situation arising out of dengue is bad, with many hospitals running full only because of panic among patients,’’ said Dr Thacker.
Consider the 50-bedded
Physician Dr M K Dave from
Dr Manerkar too said people get “hyper” on receiving the dengue diagnosis and insist on hospitalisation. “There is more panic in the air than reality in the body,” said Dr Thacker. He estimates that 25% hospitalisations could be a reaction to panic. “People don’t seem to realise that if they stay home, take rest, paracetamol and plenty of water, they will be fine,” said Dr Thacker. Only patients with a comorbidity such as diabetes or weakened kidney function should be extra cautious.
BMC’s executive health officer Dr Padmaja Keskar said most cases were reported from Byculla, Sandhurst Road, Bhandup, Malad, Byculla and Parel. “We usually see a peak in October though cases start coming in from August,” she added.
