Another three test positive for dengue fever

Rawalpindi : As many as three more individuals have tested positive for dengue fever from Rawalpindi in the last one week that has taken the total number of patients so far confirmed positive for the infection from the district to 32 this year.

Data collected by ‘The News’ on Saturday has revealed that 31 of the total patients so far reported positive from the district have already been discharged from the hospitals after achieving complete cure while one confirmed patient of the infection was undergoing treatment at Social Security Hospital Islamabad on Saturday. It is important to mention that dengue fever has claimed no life from the district so far.

Data also reveals that out of a total of 32 patients confirmed positive from the district, 19 have been confirmed at two of the three allied hospitals in town including 16 at Holy Family Hospital and three at District Headquarters Hospital. Experts say that dengue fever patients have so far been reported from various localities in Rawalpindi district and the situation at the time can not be termed as an outbreak of the infection. Experts say that the most suitable season for the growth of larvae of ‘aedes aegypti’, the mosquito that causes dengue fever has already set in and a severe outbreak of the infection can not be ruled out in the coming days as almost all risk factors are existing this region of the country.

According to health experts, it is time to make individuals aware of various aspects of the disease and sensitise community and healthcare workers so that the losses, in case of rapid spread of dengue fever, can be minimized. It is encouraging that so far, none of the confirmed dengue fever patient from the region has been found with hemorrhagic manifestations. To date, not a single patient of dengue hemorrhagic fever has been reported from the district.

People must be aware of the fact that uncontrolled bleeding distinguishes DHF from uncomplicated dengue fever. Bleeding can occur from the gums, nose, intestine, or under the skin as bruises or spots of blood especially under a tourniquet. The liver is often enlarged. Patients can have rapid onset of marked drowsiness, lethargy or restlessness or the presence of shock as manifested by a rapid and weak pulse, low blood pressure and cold clammy skin. Such patients should be immediately referred to a good hospital for further management.

Dengue Shock Syndrome can be a mortal illness and requires rapid and careful in-hospital management with assiduous correction and replacement of fluid, electrolytes, plasma and sometimes, fresh blood/platelets transfusions. Studies reveal that mortality from dengue hemorrhagic fever ranges from five to 30 per cent (in untreated native populations) and the highest risk is to infants under one year.