Sharp rise in viral ailments

[Ronan Kelly]

Sharp rise in viral ailments
Pratibha Masand , TNN 14 October 2009, 04:53am IST

MUMBAI: The city, which had just started to relax after the first wave of swine flu, has other problems to contend with. Apart from the benign hand,
foot and mouth disease (HFMD) targeting children, doctors are seeing an increase in the number of cases of dengue as well as other viral diseases across the city.

Paediatricians have reported a high increase in HMFD cases over the past fortnight. Dr Nitin Shah, a paediatrician attached to Hinduja Hospital in Mahim, says he has seen at least 30 children suffering from HFMD in the past two weeks.

"We get many children with rashes and slight fever. It is a new type of disease and the city will take some time to understand that the only way to prevent it is to maintain proper hygiene,'' said Dr Shah, adding that children are more prone to HMFD as they tend to come in contact with the virus through each other.

Meanwhile, general practitioners say dengue is creating a havoc in the city. According to BMC statistics, one person has succumbed to dengue and a total of 126 people have been admitted to civic hospitals in the first 12 days of October.
Private doctors, too, are seeing an "unending spate'' of dengue cases. "Of all the cases we get, more than 60% are those pertaining to dengue,'' explained general practitioner Dr Hemant Thacker, a consultant at Jaslok, Breach Candy, Bhatia and Bombay hospitals. "At all the hospitals where I consult, we get a large number of patients every hour with high fever, rashes and low WBC and platelet counts,'' he pointed out.

"Not every patient we get can be put through the dengue test. But there is a 10% increase in dengue cases as compared to last month,'' said Dr Suhas Pingle from Indian Medical Association.

"There are so many strains of dengue. Not all of them can be tested in laboratories. So, even if one tests negative for dengue, one cannot be too sure. Itching, rashes with high fever and rapidly dropping platelet counts are a sure sign of dengue,'' said Dr Thacker.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ise-in-viral-ailments/articleshow/5121586.cms

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sharp rise in viral ailments

From Tamil Nadu;

70 viral fever cases a day being reported

Special Correspondent


MADURAI: Nearly 70 cases of viral fever were being reported every day in the city and the Health Department officials and Corporation?s health wing had been taking all steps to reduce mosquito density, City Health Officer V. Subramaniam said here on Thursday. According to him, half of the viral fever cases are suspected chikungunya cases and appropriate medical attention is given to the affected persons. Subramaniapuram, Kochadai, Anuppanadi and Thathaneri were the areas where more number of fever cases were reported.


Special camps


Special medical camps were being conducted at different places in the city in coordination with the Health Department officials.

Intensive fogging was being carried out by deploying the two high-capacity fogging machines provided to the district by the State Government recently.

Four entomological assistants had been asked to study mosquito density and identify localities where it was high.

?We will be able to control the mosquito menace in the next few days. There is adequate stock of medicines in Corporation dispensaries and urban health centres for giving treatment for those with fever,? Dr. Subramaniam said.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/30/stories/2009103059510300.htm

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sharp rise in viral ailments

After all, it?s a season of fevers
Ramya Kannan

?We get a large number of cases from last week of September?

CHENNAI: The message from health officials this season is not to panic when you have a fever. This is indeed, a ?season of fevers? and fever could be an indication of a large number of problems in the body, they say. There is no need to stir up fear on account of this, the thing to do is to see a doctor, do the lab tests and be treated for the right infection.

?Epidemiologically, if you analyse the trends of diseases in the State, September is where it all begins, when the weather changes. Typically, we get a large number of cases of ?fever? from the fourth week of September, right through October and up to early November,? Dr. S. Elango, Director of Public Health, says. There is no cause for panic, he explains, hastening to add that it is still prudent to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Here are some cardinal signs of some kinds of fevers and the endemic diseases they are symptoms of, he says: If there is fever with shivering, test for malaria; if it comes with dysentery and abdominal pain, suspect typhoid; if the fever is accompanied by change in the colour of the conjuctiva (eyes), test for leptospirosis or jaundice; when severe retro-orbital (behind the eyes) pain colour is noticed along with rashes on the skin and fever, it is likely dengue.

In younger children, fever with joint pain and swelling, may be indicative of rheumatic fever, while the same symptoms in those between 20 and 35 years, could indicate chikungunya.

Fever with cough and sneezing is a sign of respiratory infection, and if after seven days, the patient continues to have respiratory distress, it could be a case of A (H1N1).
Rex Sargunam, paediatrician, says that this year, there have not been many fever cases, but many children with coughs and colds, he adds. ?It is usual for the season. With children, especially the small ones, parents come to the doctors almost immediately. That is good. Only with older kids, do they try their hand at Paracetamols, before they see a doctor,? he says.

Dr. Elango insists on prevention first. Prevent the infection as much as possible by avoiding vectors like mosquitoes (cleaning overhead tanks and getting rid of breeding areas at home). However, if you have a fever, treat it. ?Go to the doctor; do not buy medicines over the counter at a pharmacy. The key is to treat the cause, not merely the symptoms.?

C. Rajendran, director, Institute of Internal Medicine at Madras Medical College, says, ?Technically, for Chennai, fever is not seasonal at all! There is some virus all the time, including the ordinary viral fever that does well with simple medication.?

However, he says that it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Fever may be one of the least troublesome illnesses, but again, any disease can begin as a fever.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/31/stories/2009103150730200.htm