Deccan Hospital sounds dengue alert; asks public to stay vigilant
Hyderabad: Amid a sharp seasonal surge in dengue fever cases across urban neighbourhoods, Vamsee Krishna P, Chief Consultant Physician and Diabetologist at The Deccan Hospital Somajiguda, has urged the public to stay vigilant and informed. With over 15 years of clinical experience, Vamsee Krishna P emphasised early detection, proper medical care, and avoiding self-medication to combat the mosquito-borne illness. Dengue is a viral infection caused by a flavivirus with four distinct serotypes DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4, primarily transmitted by day-biting Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Secondary infection with a different serotype significantly increases the risk of severe dengue.
Initial signs appear 4 to 10 days after a mosquito bite, including sudden high fever up to 104 deg F, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, intense muscle and joint pain, and skin rash. The critical phase occurs around days 3 to 7 as fever subsides, during which blood vessels may leak fluid, causing dangerous blood pressure drops. Warning signs requiring emergency care include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding gums or nose, blood in vomit or stool, and extreme fatigue, which often surface just as the initial fever drops.
Treatment relies strictly on supportive care through rest and hydration, as no specific antiviral or antibiotic medication exists. Fever and pain must be managed using paracetamol, while aspirin and ibuprofen must be strictly avoided due to increased bleeding risks. Prevention involves clearing stagnant water weekly from pots, buckets, and coolers, wearing long-sleeved clothing, applying safe insect repellents, and using window screens or bed nets. Vaccines like Qdenga, available in endemic regions, will soon be available in India.
Regarding platelet transfusions, Vamsee Krishna P clarified that transfusions are reserved strictly for patients with active bleeding or critically low counts under 10000 to 20000 per microlitre. Routine prophylactic transfusions for stable patients are avoided because transfused platelets degrade quickly in active dengue, carrying risks like fluid overload, allergic reactions, and lung injury, while most patients recover counts naturally.
Hospitalisation is essential if patients experience severe stomach tenderness, persistent vomiting, mucosal bleeding, black tarry stool, extreme weakness, cold clammy skin, breathing difficulty, fever lasting past five days, rapid platelet drops, or when living far from medical monitoring. Highlighting that one bite brings multiple health risks, Vamsee Krishna P advised immediate consultation upon noticing symptoms to ensure a safe monsoon.