the goan I network
PANAJI
If the female anopheles mosquito gave Goans, doctors and para-medics included, sleepless nights in the 1990s and the early years of the current millennium, another winged menace is returning to haunt Goa -- the dengue and chikungunya transmitting female ‘Aedes aegypti’ mosquito.
Dengue cases have abnormally risen this year with as many as 195 testing positive up to July 31. The figure was just 122 in the same period last year.
Also, this year the viral disease has already claimed the life of five-year-old Ashish Nischal in Chicalim, where several other children studying in a prominent school were infected.
The abnormal upsurge in cases is keeping Dr Anant Palyenkar and his colleagues in the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme cell of the Directorate of Health Services on their toes.
The actual figures could be much higher, according to Dr Palyenkar, who heads the vector-borne disease control programme.
“Many being treated for fevers may actually be infected by the Dengue virus but are unaware,” Dr Palyenkar said, indicating that the disease could be even more endemic than the official figures of 195 indicate.
Typically, the initial symptoms vanish after normal treatment is given. In some cases the symptoms recur in 3-7 days and could develop into life-threatening conditions such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS).
Upsurges in the occurrence of the disease in Goa this year have been sporadic with areas in the eastern hinterland such as Priol and the surrounding villages seeing a spurt in cases in the May-June period. Dr Palyenkar however claimed that the situation is under control though vigilance will have to be continuously maintained.
Clinically characterized by high fever coupled with severe headache, pain behind eyes and rash besides in some cases muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting, rash and swollen lymph nodes, Dengue is a viral fever transmitted by the female Aedes mosquito bite.
A day biter, the ‘Aedes aegypti’ mosquito breeds even in spoonful of stagnant water and NVBDCP teams have even traced larvae in water stagnating in crevices of tree barks, revealed Dr Palyenkar.
“There is no specific treatment regimen for Dengue since its a viral fever. Physicians usually treat the symptoms while monitoring their vitals,” Dr Palyenkar revealed.
It is crucial that doctors monitor high-fever patients for blood pressure fluctuations, drop in blood platelet counts and other health indicators for a couple of weeks after the initial symptoms have abated, Dr Palyekar said, as the Elisa and dengue testing kits aren’t very reliable.
But more than the medical fraternity, the role of the civic authorities in ensuring proper sanitation and breeding grounds are done away with, will be crucial to quell the challenge of the ‘Aedes aegypti’ mosquito.
