This story is from September 19, 2020

Delhi: Dengue a big risk in Covid times

When Sushil Gupta (name changed) was rushed to hospital with high fever, fatigue and lack of appetite recently, doctors ran a battery of tests to diagnose the illness. The 52-year-old, they found, was suffering from both Covid and dengue.
Delhi: In Covid times, dengue emerging as big risk
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NEW DELHI: When Sushil Gupta (name changed) was rushed to hospital with high fever, fatigue and lack of appetite recently, doctors ran a battery of tests to diagnose the illness. The 52-year-old, they found, was suffering from both Covid and dengue.
Fortunately, Gupta didn’t have any serious complication and he could be managed on an OPD-basis itself.
However, co-infection is emerging as a new trend and Dr Suranjeet Chatterjee of Delhi’s Apollo hospital says it can have serious consequences.
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“Both are viral illnesses with no known cure. In dengue, a patient can go into shock due to extremely low blood pressure, while in Covid-19, high blood pressure is linked to higher fatality,” he said.
Dr Chatterjee stressed the need for timely identification of both diseases and strict implementation of measures to reduce incidence of mosquito-borne diseases. “In the last 10 days, I have seen at least three patients who suffered from both diseases at the same time,” he said.
According to data shared by the municipal corporations, Delhi has recorded 131 cases of dengue and 114 cases of malaria till September 12 this year.

“We have already seen more than 40 dengue cases. One of them also had Covid-19. Fortunately, the patient came within two days of the onset of fever and timely medical intervention helped reduce the risk of complications. His platelet count was very low,” Dr Ashutosh Biswas, professor of medicine at AIIMS, said. Co-infection adds to the risk of both mortality and morbidity, he added.
Co-infection can also be caused due to other seasonal illnesses such as malaria, chikungunya, typhoid, common flu and leptospirosis, a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals.
Dr Biswas said that due to the pandemic, health infrastructure and manpower were already under duress and, therefore, public should take measures to prevent spread of other infections. “If there is a dengue outbreak, too, things may get out of control. People may not get beds,” said another doctor.
National Centre for Disease Control data shows 412 people have also been diagnosed with swine flu in Delhi. Dr Atul Gogia, senior consultant of internal medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the threat of other seasonal illnesses shouldn’t be ignored due to Covid-19. “They need more focus as co-infections or outbreak of multiple illnesses can add to the crisis.”
US Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that most people with dengue and Covid-19 have mild illness and can recover at home. But both may also “cause severe illness that can result in death”, it states.
The warning signs of dengue include persistent vomiting, mucosal bleeding, difficulty in breathing, lethargy/restlessness and low blood pressure. In Covid-19, common symptoms include difficulty in breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, and bluish lips or face.
“People should keep their surroundings clean and prevent stagnation of water to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Elderly, children and those with comorbidities should get a flu shot to reduce the risk of seasonal influenza,” Dr Gogia said. Keeping blood sugar and pressure under control can help reduce the risk of any complication, he added.
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