TN govt issues guidelines for fever care

CHENNAI: Nearly a week after two siblings from Pallavaram died six hours apart following symptoms of dengue, the public health department has released advisories to doctors across Tamil Nadu detailing fever management and standard of care for the next four months. The health department will ask doctors' bodies, including the state wing of the Indian Medical Association, to circulate the government guidelines among doctors.
Audits on the 15 deaths, mostly children, due to infectious diseases such as dengue, malaria, typhoid, scrub typhus and jaundice in the past two months showed many patients were treated either by unqualified practitioners or were referred to tertiary centres late. "Many patients were brought to the hospital when their chances of recovery were slim. They spent less than a day in the hospital. Most of the time doctors in tertiary hospitals are helpless," said director of public health Dr K Kolandaisamy.
The guidelines will urge people to visit qualified doctors as soon as they have a fever. If the doctors see symptoms more than that of common flu - sore throat, cold, fatigue - they will have to order a battery of tests to rule out dengue, malaria, typhoid or jaundice. "If the results are positive, doctors must decide if they need hospitalisation. If the doctor decides to give them domiciliary care, he must see them at least twice a day until all symptoms subside. In case of dengue, patients must be asked to see the doctor at least once after fever subsides," he said. Doctors must notify diseases to health officials so steps, including preventive treatment and vector control measures, can be taken. In a meeting on Wednesday, health secretary J Radhakrishnan directed health inspectors to document all infectious diseases and undertake preventive measures.
Private hospitals will be allowed to use funds from the state health insurance scheme.