Mumbai: Dengue cases surge in city, docs say get treatment fast

BMC identified 13,698 Aedes mosquito breeding sites and conducted fogging activities in 47,948 buildings and 65,028 huts

Doctors from both private and BMC-run facilities are issuing a warning regarding the critical need for early dengue treatment to avert severe complications, especially in light of the city's surge in mosquito-borne disease cases this month.

Between September 1 and September 25, Mumbai recorded a total of 1,031 dengue cases, marking a significant increase from 353 cases in June, 685 in July, and 999 in August.

Dr Girish Rajadhyaksha, a professor and unit head of medicine at BMC-run BYL Nair hospital, said, "It is preventable, but remains an annual occurrence." Most dengue patients at Nair Hospital have experienced mild to moderate illness, with approximately 10% facing complications such as abdominal fluid accumulation, severe thrombocytopenia leading to bleeding from the nose, skin, or gums, and respiratory problems. Dr Rajadhyaksha emphasised that while the caseload is not alarming, it is a common occurrence during the monsoon season.

At Lilavati hospital, doctors have been observing an average of 5 to 6 patients with dengue symptoms daily. Dr CC Nair from Lilavati's department of internal medicine said, "About 20% of these patients develop complications, but early treatment can be life-saving." Many patients arrive at the hospital four to five days after symptom onset, often severely dehydrated, which can exacerbate their condition.

Dr Rajadhyaksha noted that complications can also arise from pre-existing conditions compromising a patient's immunity, and even young adults without comorbidities have experienced severe dengue.

Both doctors emphasised the risks of seeking treatment from non-allopathic practitioners who may prescribe allopathic medicines without a proper understanding of their effects.

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Nair hospital encountered one tragic case in August, where a young boy with dengue, malaria, and leptospirosis symptoms who had attempted home remedies and received treatment from a local non-medical practitioner for a week before succumbing to the illness.

Meanwhile, as part of their mosquito control efforts, the BMC identified 13,698 Aedes mosquito breeding sites and conducted fogging activities in 47,948 buildings and 65,028 huts. While monsoon-related illness cases are declining, the BMC has not yet released mortality data for these diseases.

685
No. of dengue cases recorded in the city in July alone