Vector-borne diseases keep Health Dept on toes

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 9 

With the rise in the number of dengue and chikungunya cases, the possibility of an outbreak of these two diseases looms large over Patiala. 

As many as 366 cases of dengue and 61 cases of chikungunya were reported in the district, which is now keeping the Patiala Health Department on its toes. While dengue cases have started coming in from July, chikungunya cases have been reported from August onwards. 

Though the Health Department has already deployed a rapid response team and a surveillance team in the city to treat patients, the increasing number has become a cause of concern for the authorities. Now, they are taking precautionary measures to ensure that the diseases do not spread in other areas. 

District Epidemiologist Dr Gurmanjeet Kaur said, “Dengue and chikungunya tests are done free of cost at government hospitals. Patients get treatment free of cost.” 

She said the department had already carried out fogging in areas and the affected persons were getting treatment at Government Rajindra Hospital and other health centres. 

Meanwhile, the death toll due to swine flu (Influenza ‘A’ H1N1) has reached 11 in the district. The virus has become a cause of concern as till now, the district has seen it spread in winters only.

Health officials said all immediate contacts of the deceased were given Tamiflu tablets as a precautionary measure and it had been found that none of the primary contacts were suffering from swine flu. 

“Awareness is the most important tool to keep HINI at bay. Apart from providing the medicine, we are organising lectures in schools and educating nurses, hospital and dispensary staff in urban as well as rural areas,” the officials said. 

Cough, fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea are common symptoms of swine flu. 

Swine flu (H1N1) categories

Category- A

• Patients with mild fever, along with, cough and sore throat with or without body ache, headache, diarrhea and vomiting will be categorised as Category-A. Patients should be monitored for their progress and reassessed in 24 to 48 hours by the doctor. 
• No testing of the patient for H1N1 is required.

Category-B

(i) In addition to all signs and symptoms mentioned under category-A, if the patient has high-grade fever and severe sore throat.

(ii) Children less than 5

• Pregnant women;
• Persons aged 65 years or older;
• Patients with lung, heart, liver, kidney diseases, blood disorders, diabetes, neurological disorders, cancer and HIV/AIDS;
• Patients on long-term cortisone therapy.
• No test for H1N1 is required for Category-B (i) and (ii).

Category-C

In addition to the signs and symptoms of both A and B categories, if the patient has one or more of the following:

• Breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, fall in blood pressure, sputum mixed with blood and bluish discolouration of nails.
• Irritability among small children, refusal to accept feed.
• Worsening of underlying chronic conditions.

Symptoms

Dengue

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms typically start three to fourteen days after infection. This may include high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains and a characteristic skin rash.

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is an infection caused by the chikungunya virus. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever two to four days after exposure. The fever usually lasts two to seven days while accompanying joint pains typically last weeks or months.