Mumbai: dengue cases

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Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/repor...s-city_1290262

After swine flu, dengue hits city
Deepa Suryanarayan / DNA
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 2:53 IST


With swine flu creating widespread panic, the focus has shifted from monsoon-related illnesses. After fever and malaria claimed several lives this monsoon, dengue has now reared it head in the city. Dengue has claimed six lives and has had 108 patients in its grip since the beginning of September, said a civic health department official.

The swine flu pandemic

"Monsoon-related ailments follow a certain pattern. Every year, malaria and leptospirosis arrive towards the beginning of monsoon. This is then followed by dengue fever, which peaks towards September," said Dr Vasant Nagvekar, consultant physician, Lilavati Hospital.

"I currently have at least five patients admitted with dengue fever. I have diagnosed 20 cases so far this month," he said. "Dengue will continue till November," he added. The test for dengue is costly -- about Rs800 -- so many patients do not go for it. Instead they opt to receive symptomatic treatment on OPD basis.

"However, consulting a doctor is a must, as dengue can be fatal if not treated in time," said Dr Satish Ahire, general practitioner, who has also seen a rise in dengue cases in the past 10 days.

Dengue and malaria are far more fatal than swine flu. Dengue has a mortality rate of about 5-10%, whereas it's only 2% in swine flu. "The civic body should not ignore rain-related diseases as they are more common and deadlier too," said Dr SN Acharya, another general practitioner.

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Re: Mumbai: dengue cases

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/n...ow/5028868.cms

Dengue set to peak, cases on the rise
TNN 19 September 2009, 05:01am IST

MUMBAI: Another mosquito-borne disease is slowly making its presence felt in the city. The incidence of dengue, the viral disease spread by the
colourful Tiger (Aedes Aegypti) mosquitoes, has been increasing. A number of doctors have observed that children, especially, are falling prey to the virus.

Thane paediatrician Dr S Kelkar said that dengue cases among children have risen sharply in the last couple of weeks. "We get fresh cases every few days. Last week I had three children with dengue, all admitted at the same time, to Jupiter Hospital, Thane,'' he said.

In Mumbai, too, BMC officials concede that while dengue has not claimed many lives - only two deaths in September as compared to the 29 that succumbed to malaria - the number of patients coming to hospitals is increasing.

Last week, a patient who was rushed to Kasturba Hospital by a private hospital that suspected that he had swine flu, died within a couple of hours of admission. "He bled from his nose, which is typical of dengue haemorrhagic fever,'' said a civic official.

"Dengue is present all through the year, but we will see it peak in winter,'' said Dr Altaf Patel, who consults at Jaslok Hospital, Pedder Road. BMC executive health officer Dr J Thanekar added that dengue cases will rise when the rainy season ends. "Our surveillance has shown that 78% of the dengue-causing mosquitoes breed in household items,'' he said.