Paediatric dengue cases on rise in government hospitals

Chennai: After the death of three children due to dengue last month, paediatric cases are particularly spurting in government hospitals. While the overall numbers of dengue and suspicious fever patients continue to spike, a large number of the patients are children.

Outpatients at Institute of Child Health (ICH) crossed 500 and of the 212 paediatric patients admitted at the hospital, more than 25 are dengue positive. 

“Brain fever and haemorrhagic fever are prime diseases affecting children currently. Seasonal changes coupled with dengue prevalence have increased number of paediatric cases, as some children are born with low immunity and are critical to handle. Though late diagnosis is one reason for dengue deaths in children, some of them seeking treatment in private hospitals are referred very late,” said Dr Ravichandran, dean, ICH. 

Stanley Medical College witnessed a total of 366 outpatients with more than 216 paediatric cases. A total of 55 paediatric fever patients are admitted at KMC, while dengue positive patients include 8 children of 12.  

“Diagnosis is delayed for children as they cannot identify the symptoms and report it immediately. Parents should look out for symptoms like if a child refuses to accept oral fluids or is vomiting along with abdominal pain and joint pain, a doctor should be immediately consulted,” said Dr P Vasanthamani, dean, Kilpauk Medical College. As of now, around 11,500 cases have been witnessed in Tamil Nadu and the last month witnessed an increased number of paediatric deaths in the state. Though doctors say that the situation is under control, cases of viral fever have risen in comparison to last year. 

Real figures on dengue deaths being suppressed: Kanimozhi
DMK MP Kanimozhi has alleged that the state government is suppressing the truth on the ground realities on the prevalence of dengue and also the number of fatalities due to the dreaded virus in TN.

Claiming that the state government has not accepted the reality of the situation, she said, “The government has not revealed the exact figures on the loss of lives. They want to suppress the truth.” Speaking to reporters at Coimbatore airport on Sunday she said in several places, women and children have been the most affected.  On the divergent views expressed by the state ministers on the hospitalisation and demise of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, she said that lack of transparency in AIADMK was the main reason for the ongoing debate over the death of late CM.