Separate wards for dengue patients

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 19

City hospitals have pulled up their socks to tackle dengue patients and separate wards are being marked to handle such cases.

So far, four patients have been confirmed positive for dengue. One patient was from Ludhiana, while the remaining three were from other districts and are undergoing treatment at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

The Civil Hospital has prepared a 10-bed ward for dengue patients.

“At present, we have a 10-bed ward for dengue patients and if need arises, the number of beds will be increased. All major private hospitals have also been asked to prepare isolated wards for dengue patients. It is mandatory for hospitals to send the sample to the Health Department for confirming dengue. Some of the hospitals are carrying out tests on their own, but still they need to send the sample to the department for confirmation. Elisa test is conducted by the department at the Civil Hospital to confirm dengue patients,” said Dr Ramesh, district epidemiologist.

“Even a spoonful of stagnant water is enough to help the mosquito breed. People should not let water stagnate around their houses. Water in flower pots should be changed every day and do not allow water to accumulate in gutters and in flower pots. Don’t keep uncovered utensils, pots, tyres etc. on the rooftop or in the open and don’t allow fresh water to store near houses,” he said.

DMCH has prepared an overflow bed isolation ward, Christian Medical College and Hospital has 20-bed ward and Fortis Hospital has 12-bed isolation ward for dengue patients. In addition to this, the Health Department has also asked Ludhiana-based members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to reserve 1 or 2 beds in hospitals for dengue patients.

Dr Ankush Mehta, medical superintendent, Fortis Hospital, said the hospital was fully prepared to tackle dengue patients and had a separate 12-bed ward.

Previous infection with a dengue fever virus increases risk of having severe symptoms if one is infected again. “The risk of developing severe dengue fever, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, actually increases if you’re infected a second, third or fourth time,” Dr Pardeep Sood, a city-based general physician, said.