Sun's out but dengue, chikungunya linger

PUNE: The number of mosquito-borne illnesses has spiked again with an average of 71 fresh cases of chikungunya and dengue reported every day since October 1.
In Pune city, chikungunya has surged ahead in the first week of October with a total of 372 cases as against 201 cases of dengue.
"A total of 166 dengue and 193 chikungunya cases were reported in private hospitals while the rest in government-designated laboratories and sentinel centres," said a health official with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
Experts have warned that popping painkillers and those falling in the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) category may lead to complications like gastrointestinal bleeding in case of dengue fever.
In view of the rampant self-medication by people suffering from fever and bodyache, the state government's technical committee has directed the local self-government bodies to sensitize people against the use of over-the-counter painkillers.
"Since dengue presents as a fever with bodyache in the beginning, most people mistake it for viral fever. They end up taking drugs like Combiflam, Brufen and others. However, taking these pills may complicate things. We have directed municipal corporations to sensitize people against taking such pills," Kanchan Jagtap, joint director (vector-borne diseases), told TOI on Tuesday. Some registered medical practitioners are also wooing patients of chikungunya by giving potent shots of certain medicines to relieve them of the persistent joint pains.
"There are some doctors who inject corticosteroid to patients with chikungunya who are down with joint pains. These shots are given under the guise of instant pain relievers. Patients get instant relief as steroids are known to give faster results. Word of mouth publicity fetches these doctors more patients searching for a quick fix," a doctor said.
Orthopaedic surgeon Ramesh Ranka ruled out the use of steroids in chikungunya. "If steroid shot is given during active phase of chikungunya virus, there are chances that the disease will get aggravated because steroid suppresses the immune system, which can further complicate things," Ranka said.
Since aedes aegypti, the vector that transmits dengue as well as chikungunya, breed in fresh water, health officials say it is imperative for every household, one day a week, to empty and clean all utensils and tanks.
Since the beginning of this year, Pune city has reported a total 2,612 dengue cases and 1,181 chikungunya cases collectively from private hospitals and government designated laboratories. Besides, nine individuals have succumbed to dengue fever induced dengue shock syndrome and dengue haemorrahagic fever in the last three months.