Concurrent infections from vectors leave doctors worried in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: A combination of irregular rains and warm weather has led mosquitoes to swarm into our homes. What is worrying health authorities in Ahmedabad and in cities such as Vadodara and Rajkot is the prospect of concurrent infections of two vector-borne diseases in an individual.

A study conducted by the department of microbiology of PDU Medical College and Hospital, GMERS Rajkot, and a private hospital in Vadodara has reported such concurrent infections. They are dengue and chikungunya, and dengue and malaria in a single person. In Ahmedabad too the AMC came across two instances of concurrent infections.

The study was published as a series of reports between June 2019 and April 2021.

The Rajkot study involved 3,810 people who were screened for dengue, 2,122 who were screened for chikungunya, and 1,605 who were screened for both the diseases. The researchers came across 60 cases, almost 3.73%, where individuals were infected by both dengue and chikungunya. “Simultaneous infections of dengue and chikungunya viruses are more severe than a single infection,” the authors said. “The purpose of this research is to emphasize early detection and time-bound treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality rates.” The authors said another aim is to help the health authorities execute effective measures to prevent and control diseases.

The authors of the study are professor Hetvi Chawda, associate professor Madhulika Mistry, and resident doctor Tanavi Chaudhari of GMERS Rajkot.

In another study conducted by doctors at Dhiraj Hospital in Vadodara, 604 cases were analyzed and 58 patients (9.6%) tested positive for malaria and 80 patients (13.24%) were positive for dengue. Moreover, 21 patients (3.47%) were detected with concomitant infections — both dengue and malaria. The most affected age group was 31-60 years (45.53%). “The study revealed male preponderance (61.59%), hepatomegaly and jaundice were seen in 52.38% of the patients,” the authors said. “…haemorrhagic manifestations [were seen] in 23.80%, kidney failure in 4.76% (1), and thrombocytopenia was noted in 95.23% patients.”

The research was carried out by Sangita Vasava, Sucheta Lakhani, and Jitendra Lakhani of Dhiraj Hospital. The doctors emphasized that it should be mandatory to test any patient with fever for both malaria and dengue. “The clinicians who treat fever patients in or from endemic areas must thoroughly examine and diagnose for both malaria and dengue,” the authors said. “Vector control, health education and good hygiene are community-based preventive measures that are needed to control both the diseases.”