4 KEM doctors among 1000 cases of suspected dengue in Mumbai
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A day after we reported about the increasing number of dengue cases in Mumbai’s neighbouring city, four resident doctors of KEM hospital have been admitted on campus with suspected dengue.
KEM dean Dr Avinash Supe, however, confirmed that all doctors are currently stable. The BMC also checked the hospital premises for breeding spots, but could not find any. They will now widen the search to neighbouring buildings and shanties.
The number of dengue cases have been on the rise in the city since the onset of monsoon. The rise can be attributed to the irregular bouts of rain coupled with stagnant water and humid weather, which are ideal conditions for the breeding of dengue causing ‘Aedes Aegypti’ mosquitos.
According to the civic body’s latest health report, dated August 21, there are 994 suspected cases of dengue across BMC-run hospitals in the month.
The city witnessed its worst dengue outbreak in October 2014, when the state run hospitals had witnessed over thousand suspected cases of dengue. Over a dozen resident doctors of KEM were also affected, with one succumbing to the disease.
At the time, BMC was able to find over two dozen breeding spots in the hospital campus. Following which, the civic body conducted fumigation, sanitation drives and anti-mosquito breeding operations.
Mumbai’s neighbouring city, Thane, too has witnesses a sharp increase in the number of cases, with at least 3 dengue-related deaths. In addition, at least 237 cases of dengue have been reported and another 824 are suspected of being riddled with the viral disease.
What is dengue:
Dengue is a viral disease and is transmitted by the bite of female aedes aegypti mosquito.
Symptoms:
The symptoms for dengue begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days. They include:
# Sudden high fever
# Severe headaches
# Pain behind the eyes
# Severe joint and muscle pain
# Fatigue
# Nausea
# Vomiting
# Skin rash, which appears two to five days after the onset of fever
# Mild bleeding (such a nosebleed, bleeding gums or easy bruising)
How to manage dengue?
# Take bed rest and plenty of oral fluids
# Paracetamol to control fever
# See a doctor in case of persistent vomiting
# Monitor blood platelets
# Take blood transfusion in severe cases (under doctor supervision)
