Rise in dengue cases creates panic in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Even as the southwest monsoon is meandering across the State, unleashing downpours, wreaking havoc and throwing lives out of gear, its creepy companions – viral fever and dengue – are taking a heavy toll of the health of hundreds of people.

The number of cases of the deadly diseases is growing abnormally, creating a near fear-psychosis among the people in the State. Due to the influx of inpatients affected with viral fever and dengue, the Fever Hospital at Nallakunta in the state capital is suddenly short of beds and rooms, putting the lives of patients with advanced stages of dengue in peril.

As many as 830 viral cases and nearly 200 cases of dengue were reported in the hospital in the last three days alone, according to health officials.

To make matters worse, the outpatient count in the Fever Hospital has mounted to 1,400 from the earlier 950. The severely affected dengue patients are being shifted to the immunisation ward to check the immunity levels of the patients on a regular basis. And there is shortage of rooms there too.

The Resident Medical Officer at the hospital Dr Chitra Lekha told The Hans India, “Patients with under 20,000 blood platelets have tested positive for dengue and they have been admitted for better monitoring. The yellow mosquito - aedes aegypti - which breeds in clear water is primarily responsible for spread of dengue.

This is mostly the case in monsoon. This time, it being worse, there is a large number of admissions in the wards.”

She explained that Aedes aegypti, which infects a person with the virus and makes one prone to dengue fever, is resulting in patient losing immunity levels given the reduction in the platelet count.

A dengue patient can be treated with blood transfusion as one of the treatments. However, its costs are beyond the common man’s reach.

“Besides viral and dengue fever, there are 21 severely affected diarrhoea patients, who all are undergoing treatment here. They have become victims of contaminated water,” pointed out Superintendent and Head of the Department Dr K Shankar.