There is a rise in dengue, malaria and viral fevers in Kadapa district causing concern among the people, but the situation is not alarming as per medical and health officials.
Eleven patients have been tested positive for dengue fever in the district so far. However, no casualty has recorded so far, District Medical and Health Officer Narayana Naik told The Hindu on Thursday. “There is a rise in malaria cases, but viral fevers are sporadic. The situation is under control,” Dr. Naik said, adding that doctors and para-medical staff had been instructed to organise medical camps in places where fever cases were being reported.
The number of malaria cases has increased when compared to last year. “As many as 381 malaria cases have been recorded so far this year while the same was 247 last year,” District Malaria Officer Nagaraju.
In total, 1,634 cases were reported in 2010, while 1,160 and 668 cases were recorded in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Patients are flocking RIMS hospital and private hospitals alike.Anti-malarial operations and fogging were being undertaken in the affected areas, Dr. Nagaraju added.
Meanwhile, platelet transfusion, a vital treatment procedure for dengue patients, remains a concern at the RIMS in Kadapa.
Costly affairThe hospital has a platelet separator and platelet transfusion is done to dengue patients with below 30,000 platelet count.
The platelet count in a healthy person is around 1.5 lakh. The procedure is beyond the affordability of the poor as a single donor platelet supplement containing between 30,000 to 60,000 platelets costs around Rs. 12,000. Multi-donor supplement has to be performed in need.
Platelet transfusion is done to avert fatality, says Dr. Madanmohan of RIMS. “In some cases, we are referring patients to Kurnool or Tirupati.
