Mumbai: Doctors sound alarm on rising dengue cases

Sion hospital is recording about 50-60 admissions a day, said the deputy dean. File pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Prolonged monsoon has created a favourable conditions for mosquito breeding, and as a result, Mumbai is registering a rise in dengue cases, according to the BMC's data. City doctors are concerned, as some patients have been hospitalised with unusual complications, like seizures, internal bleeding and lung injuries.

According to the BMC health department's data, the city registered 78 dengue cases in nine days, from October 1 to 9, recording an average of eight cases a day. In the next seven days, from October 10 to 16, the city reported 178 cases - an average of 25 cases a day.

Unusual complications

Dr Vimal Pahuja, who is associated with Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, said, "The dengue cases are certainly going up. I am seeing 10-15 dengue patients daily, with at least three to four of them needing hospitalisation. There are patients who are recovering at home, but we are witnessing many complicated cases this time around. I don't know whether there is a change in the strain of the virus [causing dengue]."

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He added, "We are seeing patients with seizures, which is unusual. There have been a few cases where patients were doing well, but suddenly had seizures. The patients are having a seizure and their oxygen level drops. Last week, a woman in her 40s succumbed to the disease. I have seen youngsters come with internal bleeding issues. I recently treated an 18-year-old youth, who was bleeding from his mouth and the gastrointestinal tract (GI) tract. People need to be extra cautious."

'100 admissions on weekends'

G P Ahuja, deputy dean of Sion hospital, said, "Most of the patients who recently came with a fever tested positive for dengue, swine flu and influenza. On a routine day, we are seeing around 50-60 admissions, and the numbers rise to 100 on weekends. We had to shift some patients to our sub centre in Dharavi."

Dr Harshad Limaye, who practises at Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital, said, "We are seeing a lot of dengue patients and most of them had acute lung injuries, breathing difficulties and liver diseases. Though the majority of patients are recovering with medication and the rate of complications is relatively low." The hospital is getting around four to five patients a week.

Dr Milind Nadkar, HoD, Medicine, KEM hospital, confirmed that there has been a rise in dengue cases recently. "But, only around 40 per cent needed admission. Most of them have fever, body ache and headache. We admit patients whose platelets are low. We have enough beds, so there is no problem with admissions."

The BMC has asked the citizens to take necessary precautions to avoid mosquito breeding. The civic body has warned that swine flu cases could also rise, although only 13 cases have been reported so far in October.

25
No. of daily cases city reported from Oct 10-16