HYDERABAD: A forty six year old man reportdely died of dengue in a private hospital on Monday.
The patient, A Ramulu from Langer House developed multiple organ failure while undergoing treatment for the disease. However, Telangana Health officials on Tuesday said that they have yet to confirm the death.
When his fever did not subside in spite of medication, Ramulu got admitted to the hospital in the fourth week of July.
Additional director of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Dr S Prabhavathi, said that they were investigating two deaths where dengue was suspected.
At Fever hospital in Nallakunta, where patients from all over Telangana are admitted, a total of 26 patients tested positive for Dengue from the month of July to August 2.
“Symptoms of Dengue include high grade fever, severe headache, vomiting, diarrhea and patches on body. If a person suffers from these symptoms, it could be dengue.
“It is called break-bone fever as the pain the patient feels is as intense as broken bones. When fever does not come down even after taking common medicines, patient has to visit doctor,” said Dr K Shankar, superintendent of Fever Hospital.
He added that in results received on Monday, ten cases tested positive.
Private hospitals hold back information on dengue cases Private hospitals in Telangana have not been passing information on dengue cases to government health officials.
The ministry of health and family welfare had directed them to report such cases to the district health officer or chief medical officer.
Pallavi (22) from Amberpet was suspected to contacted Dengue was moved from a private hospital to a government hospital where she died on July 14.
“Early reporting of dengue cases is necessary for implementing preventive measures before it spreads further in an epidemic proportion. In order to ensure early diagnosis and case management, reduce dengue transmission, to address the problems of emergency and spreading of the disease in newer geographical areas, it is essential to have complete information of all Dengue cases,” read a notice from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, dated Jun 9.
“They do not inform us of all the dengue cases. They keep the information to themselves,” said a health official of private hospitals, adding that they learn of the Dengue related deaths from newspapers and news channels. Another officials pointed out that the rule of informing government hospitals has existed for quite some time.
“When we are informed of Dengue cases, we enquire with family and hospitals about the kind of treatment that is given to the patient and take necessary action,” Dr Prabhavathi said.