Karnataka: Dengue cases rise; some patients turning Covid positive

BENGALURU: Hospitals are seeing an uptick in the number of dengue cases, and some patients are also testing positive for Covid-19. Symptoms like fever and body ache are seen in both diseases.
One such patient, a 45-year-old man, was treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). He had reported to the hospital’s outpatient ward on June 23 and was subsequently tested for dengue. “The case was evaluated, and he was diagnosed with dengue. As he was very weak, he was isolated. We conducted a Covid-19 test and he turned out to be positive for that too,” said Dr Ambanna Gowda, internal medicine specialist, Fortis, Cunningham Road. “As he developed breathing difficulties, he was shifted to the ICU. With non-invasive ventilation and high-flow oxygen support, his condition improved.”
Doctors ordered the Covid-19 test as they suspected that there was more than one factor at play. “It has been a learning curve for us,” Dr Gowda said.
The patient has recovered from both diseases and is set to be discharged.
There were two more cases of concurrent infections: two girls, aged 8 and 12, were treated at People Tree Hospital. They have recovered and are back home, said Dr AV Gurudutt, paediatrician and intensivist at People Tree.
According to him, in case of children, Covid-19 is often detected after they are brought to the hospital for a different medical issue.
Dengue cases have increased not just in Bengaluru but also in the state. Between January and June, 2,186 cases were recorded. The city reported 386 cases during the period.
Dr Girimallappa N Nesaragi, joint director, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, said awareness drives on prevention of dengue were not being conducted because of the pandemic. “We will have to spread the message through social media. Dengue surveillance activities will be taken up in high-burden districts such as Bengaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Yadgir and Koppal,” Dr Nesaragi said. “We have not heard of both dengue and Covid-19 positivity in patients. This will be looked into.”