The BMC claims that only 12 persons died of dengue last year. In a shocking revelation that contradicts the civic-body's claims, up to 22 people have died of dengue in BMC-run KEM Hospital at Parel alone.
KEM Hospital is the largest public tertiary care centre and medical college in Mumbai. The study conducted by the department of community medicine at KEM Hospital, was published in American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease in September this year. The study analysed 420 patients, of which 236 (56%) were males and 184 (44%) were females.
It is pertinent to note that patients who were diagnosed with dengue between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013, and were not suspected cases, were enrolled in the study.
The study noted that of the 420 cases, 22 had died of dengue including 13 males and 9 females.
The majority of the patients who died, presented with warning signs of severe dengue like a precarious and sudden drop in blood pressure, internal bleeding, shock and multi-organ failure.
"Death of 22 dengue patients and complication in 4 patients is a serious issue. So, we suggest that perhaps, there is a need of early diagnosis of dengue, which will minimize the further incidence of morbidity and mortality of dengue cases," quotes the study.
Shockingly, eight patients (36%) that died were receiving anti-malarial treatment even after being diagnosed with dengue, while the remaining 14 who died (64%) received appropriate, rational and life-saving treatment for dengue.
The study estimates that the uncalled for antimalarial treatment may have led to resistance towards the normal course of treatment in the patients that eventually died.
It also observes that the maximum cases of death, up to 12, six in each month of September and October, indicated that the post-monsoon season is the main factor for this vector-borne disease to proliferate and flourish.
When asked about the disparity in number of reported deaths by KEM Hospital and public health department of the BMC, Dr Ratnendra Shinde, head, department of community medicine commented, "For surveillance purposes, further verification of deaths is required, which is conducted by public health department of BMC. However, these deaths in KEM due to dengue based on clinical diagnosis had to be accounted for and reported."
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