Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

Spurt in chicken pox incidence

By K. Lakshmi

CHENNAI FEB. 13 . There has been a spurt in incidence of chicken pox going by the admissions at the Communicable Diseases Hospital, Tondiarpet.

At CDH, at least 40 patients are undergoing treatment for chicken pox with about 15 cases admitted daily in the last several days. About 225 cases were admitted in January compared to 31 in 2002.

The influx of patients was largely from North Chennai belonging to less affluent sections, as they are easily infected due to poor living standards.

The CDH director, B.J. Janardanan, said the incidence of chicken pox is high during summer season more in polluted dusty areas and "the reason for the spurt cannot be explained as the behaviour of the disease changes every year".

Such occurrences are at their peak during every three or four years and doctors at the hospital are working round-the-clock to tackle any further spread of virus.

The virus, Varicella zoster, spreads quickly through air especially in thickly-populated areas.

A doctor said high fever along with rashes was an early symptom. With the symptoms often going unnoticed, family members of the patient also faced the prospect of contracting the virus.

Though harmless, children are more prone to get the virus, which temporarily breaks down the immune mechanism of the body. Pneumonia, diarrhoea and gastric ulcer are post-recovery complications in some cases.

The Health Officer of the Chennai Corporation, G.T. Thangarajan, said it is essential for the patients to be isolated in their homes while undergoing treatment or to be referred to hospital. The CDH could be contacted over telephone (25952686) for any assistance.

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