E-Paper
Docs debate dengue; platelets in demand
While city doctors debate the severity of dengue outbreak in the city, the supply of platelets to patients from the Hallet Hospital blood bank tell a different story.
WHILE CITY doctors debate the severity of dengue outbreak in the city, the supply of platelets to patients from the Hallet Hospital blood bank tell a different story. There has been a 10 times increase in the demand for platelets and the majority of the applications are for dengue patients. The huge demand has resulted in a shortfall of platelets and patients’ kin are left with no option but to arrange blood donors.
Despite all this, Health Department officials were unwilling to admit outbreak of dengue in the city. However, records of blood suppression component unit show that private practitioners were sending demand letters for dengue cases.
Platelets counts were in demand from Kanpur Medical Centre, Madhuraj Nursing Home, RK Devi Hospital, Sakeena Nursing Home, Saral Nursing Home etc. Several of these nursing homes have clearly indicated that they needed platelet counts for dengue patients.
According to officials there, on normal days three to four units of platelets counts were in demand, but now it is 30 to 40 units daily. This has triggered off platelet count shortage. On Friday, components of blood groups A and B were out of stock.
Former Head of the Medicine Department at Hallet Hospital Dr Santosh Kumar treatment of cancer patients might be one of the reasons but for the sudden shortage etc.
While in several cases, the reason could not be verified, he added.
Dr Kumar admitted that dengue virus was present here but had not caused havoc. He said there was no need to panic as things were under control.
Dr OP Bhatt and Dr RK Kakkad also believed that the situation was not worrisome. However, child specialist Dr RN Chaurasia said about 10 to 15 dengue patients were daily visiting the OPD.
He said the condition of at least 10 per cent of these patients was serious.
Another doctor of a government hospital said several patients affected with dengue and with similar symptoms were being admitted to various city nursing homes and hospitals.
