6 months ago
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It is that clip of the twelvemonth erstwhile hospitals witnesser a dependable influx of patients with fever. At present, flu, chikungunya, and dengue are among the astir commonly reported illnesses successful the city. However, doctors rise definite causes for concern, peculiarly the hazard of dengue-related complications, and are calling for greater consciousness astir timely diagnosis and due treatment.
“There seems to beryllium an uptick successful fever cases for the past week. It is mostly flu-like symptoms, but the fever is relentless successful some. The corruption spreads rapidly wrong families, and is terrible for galore patients. Several necessitate intravenous paracetamol, and it takes 5 to 7 days to resolve,” a authorities doc said.
While the flu is rampant, determination are a batch of dengue cases now. “Mixed infections are connected the emergence making diagnosis difficult, and cumbersome investigations are needed. Mask etiquette and manus hygiene is advisable,” helium said.
S. Chandrasekar, prof and head, Department of Medicine, Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, said that determination has been nary dip successful fever cases. “We usually spot cases from November to January-end. We are receiving 2 to 3 dengue-positive patients with complications successful a week. Being a tertiary attraction centre, specified patients are referred to us. In 95% cases, dengue is self-limiting; astir 2 per cent necessitate supervised attraction and 3 per cent make complications,” helium said.
He added that a cardinal reflection is that astir patients who person developed complications are teenagers. “Factors specified arsenic deficiency of carnal activity, mediocre dietary habits, irregular slumber patterns and being mildly obese/overweight could origin low-grade inflammation successful the young. What we are seeing is an inflammatory cytokine tempest successful dengue,” helium said.
“It is the wintertime season, and we are seeing a substance of organisms. We are seeing influenza, chikungunya, and dengue. In chikungunya, fever lasts 3 to 5 days and is accompanied by associated symptom including the tiny joints successful the hands and feet, leaving patients incapable to get up and move. There is simply a tegument rash arsenic well. We usually spot dengue astatine this clip of the year. Now, chikungunya is besides prevalent. Since it is transmitted by a day-biting mosquito, checking breeding sources is essential,” Suresh Kumar, elder consultant, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, said.
He added that influenza cases continue, though symptoms, peculiarly cough, are not arsenic aggravated arsenic compared to 3 to six months ago.
Dr. Chandrasekar noted that usually, successful dengue, determination is simply a driblet successful platelet number and bleeding manifestations. “Now, determination is besides engagement of the liver - dengue hepatopathy - successful patients. Dengue complications usually beryllium connected the serotype. The commonly prevalent ones successful Chennai are serotype 2 and 4. This time, however, the engagement of the liver and haematological strategy is significant. So, we person redefined our attraction strategy and person prioritised tests for liver parameters, bleeding parameters, and serum albumin erstwhile patients travel successful with dengue complications. Based connected the findings, we are triaging patients and admitting them to the hybrid intensive attraction portion and are putting successful spot a multidisciplinary attraction strategy. In addition, determination is besides minimal cardiac engagement successful specified patients,” helium explained.
