The first cases of dengue admission this season have been reported from two private hospitals in the city. Usually, the period between July and Aug sees a spurt in dengue cases.
Kolkata: After a long period when the dengue cases remained lower than last year’s count around the same time of the year, the city hospitals have started getting dengue patients, requiring hospitalisation.
At Peerless Hospital, too, dengue is yet to be detected this season, though the hospital has received more than 100 swine flu patients. Dengue cases were, however, not reported till this week.
Despite comorbidities, they recovered fast and were discharged,” said Charnock pulmonology head, Soumya Sengupta. Two patients have been admitted to Manipal Hospital Dhakuria with severe symptoms, including a sharp platelet drop and ‘cytokine storm’ that landed them at the ICU. Both have recovered and been shifted to a general ward. Two others were admitted to Charnock Hospital and have been discharged. The middle-aged male patients at Manipal were admitted about a week ago with high fever, severe bodyache, rashes and weakness. both suffered ‘cytokine storm’ or a severe immune reaction, triggered by the dengue virus While their fever persisted. It led the doctors to suspect dengue and tests were conducted that turned out to be positive. “The symptoms in both the ICU patients were severe and similar. The rashes and the immune reaction led us to suspect dengue. At Charnock Hospital, both the patients had comorbidities. But their symptoms were mild. “They had low fever and weakness. “We have been inundated with Influenza A and B patients over the last two months. Even dengue suspects have been very few. A reason could be the continuing flu outbreak that has been unusually long. They have not allowed dengue to dominate. Also, greater awareness and heavy rain, that have not allowed water to stagnate and restrict mosquito-breeding zones, have helped,” added Sengupta.