October 31, 2006	Tuesday	Shawwal 7, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: The total number of positive cases of dengue fever in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has gone up to 90, while more samples of suspected cases continue to reach the National Institute of Health (NIH).

According to the health ministry, the NIH has so far tested 204 samples it received from different hospitals in the twin cities. The number of positive cases in Rawalpindi is 55 and 35 in Islamabad.

The NIH has received 34 fresh samples of suspected cases of dengue fever from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Mardan and Swabi during the last 24 hours.

The total number of deaths reported during the current wave of dengue fever in Karachi has now gone up to 28, with the disease claiming another life during the last 24 hours.

Forty-nine patients admitted earlier to different hospitals in Karachi with signs and symptoms of dengue fever were discharged during the last 24 hours, while 65 more patients with symptoms similar to dengue fever were admitted.

The total number of patients with dengue fever symptoms reported to different hospitals in Sindh now stands at 1,818.

Globally, there are an estimated 50 to 100 million cases of dengue fever (DF) and several hundred thousand cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) per year. Average case fatality rate of DHF is about five per cent.

The frequency of the epidemic has increased significantly during the past 20 years. Modern transportation makes it easy for travellers to visit virtually any location on the globe, including areas where dengue is endemic.

About the treatment of dengue fever, the health experts stress the need for maintaining adequate hydration.

In addition, monitoring for signs of haemorrhagic fever and early appropriate treatment are key to ensuring survival if the patient progresses to a more severe form of dengue infection. DHF/Dengue Shock Syndrome can be effectively managed by intravenous fluid replacement therapy, and if diagnosed early, fatality rates can be kept below one per cent. It is very important that physicians and other health care providers learn to recognise this disease.

To manage pain and fever, patients suspected of having dengue infection should be given acetaminophen preparations.

Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications may aggravate the bleeding tendency associated with some dengue infections.

Classic dengue fever or “break bone fever” is characterised by acute onset of high fever, 3-14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Patients develop frontal headache, retro- orbital pain, myalgias, arthralgias, nausea, vomiting, and often a maculopapular rash.

Many patients notice a change in taste sensation. Acute symptoms, when present, usually last about one week, but weakness, malaise, and anorexia may persist for several weeks. A high proportion of infections produce no or minimal symptoms, especially in children.

Treatment emphasises relief of symptoms, avoiding aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and encouraging oral fluid intake.