Kolkata: After a long period when the dengue cases remained lower than last year’s count around the same time of the year, the city hospitals have started getting dengue patients, requiring hospitalisation. The first cases of dengue admission this season have been reported from two private hospitals in the city. Usually, the period between July and Aug sees a spurt in dengue cases.Two patients have been admitted to Manipal Hospital Dhakuria with severe symptoms, including a sharp platelet drop and ‘cytokine storm’ that landed them at the ICU. Both have recovered and been shifted to a general ward.Two others were admitted to Charnock Hospital and have been discharged.The middle-aged male patients at Manipal were admitted about a week ago with high fever, severe bodyache, rashes and weakness. While their fever persisted, both suffered ‘cytokine storm’ or a severe immune reaction, triggered by the dengue virus. It led the doctors to suspect dengue and tests were conducted that turned out to be positive.“The symptoms in both the ICU patients were severe and similar. The rashes and the immune reaction led us to suspect dengue. The platelet count of one of the patients dropped to 10,000. The other, too, suffered a platelet drop. Both were suffering from severe conditions, were administered with steroids and needed ICU care for about three to four days,” said Manipal infectious diseases physician, Sayan Chakrabarty.At Charnock Hospital, both the patients had comorbidities. But their symptoms were mild. “They had low fever and weakness. Despite comorbidities, they recovered fast and were discharged,” said Charnock pulmonology head, Soumya Sengupta.While multiple viral infections have been active in the city over the last two months, dengue cases have rarely been reported during this period. A possible reason for this, according to experts, could be the predominance of Infleunza A, B, swine flu and cases of mild Covid.“We have been inundated with Influenza A and B patients over the last two months. Dengue cases were, however, not reported till this week. Even dengue suspects have been very few. A reason could be the continuing flu outbreak that has been unusually long. They have not allowed dengue to dominate. Also, greater awareness and heavy rain, that have not allowed water to stagnate and restrict mosquito-breeding zones, have helped,” added Sengupta.At Peerless Hospital, too, dengue is yet to be detected this season, though the hospital has received more than 100 swine flu patients.“The predominance of other viruses could be a reason. But there is still time for a late dengue outbreak and we should be cautious,” said Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhury, chief microbiologist at Peerless Hospital.
