It is not common for dengue cases to occur in summer. But if city doctors are to be believed, the infection — which usually takes place in the monsoon season — has found its way among Mumbaikars this summer.
Health experts say that the water shortage in the city is forcing people to store water, and this can be a reason behind the possible breeding of the aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the dengue virus.
Dr Pratit Samdhani, a physician at Jaslok hospital, said, "Dengue is unheard of in the summer. We are, however, getting sporadic cases."
The Aedes mosquito's breeding spots are commonly found in stagnant fresh water.
"The dengue cases are few at present, but we are seeing them. Patients with dengue in the summer is very rare. We usually get them a few days after the monsoon starts," said Dr Anil Ballani, physician at Lilavati hospital.
Dengue is transmitted with the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. Dengue fever is a febrile illness that affects infants, young children and adults, and occurs in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Symptoms appear three to 14 days after the bite and range from a mild fever to an incapacitating high fever with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, and rashes. There are no specific anti-viral medicines for dengue, though it is important to maintain hydration.
Dengue haemorrhagic fever (fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding) is a potentially lethal complication, which mainly affects children. Early clinical diagnosis and careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses increase the chances of patients surviving.
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