Fear of Covid, dengue co-infection looms large

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 13

As dengue cases have started increasing in the UT for the past one month, especially when the city is battling with the pandemic, the fear of co-infection of Covid-19 and dengue looms large.

The city had witnessed only 13 dengue cases till August 30. There has been an increase in the number of cases since then as the figure stands at 64. A total of 208 cases were reported in 2019, preceded by 301 cases in 2018.

According to Health Department officials, the cases of dengue peak between September and November.

City hospitals have witnessed five cases of Covid-19 and dengue co-infection so far.

Dr Ravi Gupta, Medical Superintendent of the GMCH, Sector 32, said: “A woman in her 30s was admitted to the hospital with dengue symptoms. Initially, the patient’s Covid report from a laboratory was negative. She had low platelet count. So, we admitted the patient as a dengue case. Later, she was found positive for Covid when she was tested again at the hospital. She had mild symptoms of Covid-19. Therefore, there was no requirement of oxygen support. Usually, in such cases, a high index of suspicion is required as symptoms of both Covid-19 and dengue overlap.”

The PGI has also witnessed four cases of co-infection.

Prof GD Puri, Dean (Academics) & Head, Department of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, said: “There is a respiratory failure in both dengue and Covid-19 cases. Patients, who contract both infections, develop complications as the disease progress. A patient had also died due to co-infection.”

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today asked all secondary and tertiary level hospitals of all states and union territories to prepare management of severe dengue and Covid cases.

“Mild to moderate dengue and Covid co-infected patient should be monitored closely, preferably at hospital, as they may rapidly progress to severe stage. Therefore, they should be referred to a higher centre at the early stage by recognising warning signs,” said the Ministry.

“The clinical features of both infections (Covid and dengue) are overlapping. Both present as acute febrile illness of short duration and may have thrombocytopenia (low level of platelets) and shortness of breath. Respiratory symptoms are more common in Covid-19 and bleeding manifestations are more common in dengue. Decrease in platelet count, which is a defining feature of dengue infection, can also be seen in significant number of Covid cases. There are now enough evidences to support that severe dengue is associated with cytokine storm,” stated the Ministry in detailed document.

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