Hospitals choked as city battles dengue

Patients suffering from dengue are finding it difficult to get admission in city hospitals because of a sudden spurt in the number of cases and limited beds at these medical facilities.

Patients suffering from dengue are finding it difficult to get admission in city hospitals because of a sudden spurt in the number of cases and limited beds at these medical facilities.

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Three hospitals in the city -- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital -- are taking maximum burden of dengue patients, despite having limited beds at their disposal thus choking the resources.

Premier medical institute AIIMS has reported the highest number of admissions related to dengue fever till now. The city has reported 550 dengue cases and one death this season.

"All wards are full. Nearly 50 patients including children are admitted for dengue fever. Every day we get 10 to 15 new admissions. Some are confirmed cases while others are suspected cases. Those suspected are admitted for monitoring for sudden fall in platelet count or some additional symptoms along with high fever," a doctor with the Department of Medicine said.

As a result, patients are being adjusted in corridors of the hospitals as well. The authorities have managed to bring an additional bed in the space between two beds. When the rush increases, one bed is shared by two patients as well.

"It took us two days to finally get a bed in the ward. After admission, my brother, who is a confirmed patient of dengue, was made to lie in a bed in the corridor," Nitin, relative of a dengue patient who was brought at AIIMS, said.