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Kerala has been witnessing a fever spiral with over 13,000 cases being recorded in a day during the previous week. With many of them being caused by dengue and leptospirosis (a bacterial infection transmitted by rats), Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called for cleaning drives.
While the numbers are certainly up from previous weeks, experts say that the increase in fever cases is not unusual for this time of the year. The rains, consequent flooding and the hot and humid weather create conditions each year for the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria, respiratory infections like seasonal influenza and water-borne infections like jaundice and typhoid.
Kerala has reported at least 2,906 cases of dengue and seven related deaths this year. There have also been 534 cases of leptospirosis and 27 deaths this year, according to data provided by the state. In addition, data from the National Centre for Disease Control shows that the state saw 228 cases of H1N1and 14 deaths till March, which is the latest data available publicly.
Are the numbers unusual?
The hot and humid climate of Kerala creates a breeding environment for infectious microbes. Coupled with a very active surveillance system in place, the state sees a high number of fevers each year. Says Dr E Sreekumar, Director of the Institute of Advanced Virology-Thiruvananthapuram, “Kerala sees high numbers for fever every monsoon. The numbers are not unusual. Once the rains start, there is breeding of mosquitoes that can spread dengue. There is an increase in water-borne diseases during this time. The high temperature and increase in humidity levels present an opportunity for respiratory infections to spread.” The state also picks up more infections because of a strict surveillance system in place, he adds.
Another senior official in the health ministry adds that with the state experiencing severe infectious outbreaks, including the likes of Nipah, frequently, the monitoring mechanism is always alert. “Recently, when one person passed away with fever, the health officials on the ground did a complete contact tracing and sent all their samples for testing, suspecting Nipah. All of the samples turned out to be that of dengue,” says he. Nipah is a highly fatal infection transmitted by bats through contaminated fruits.
The official assures that the current increase in the number of fevers is largely seasonal but it was good to take precautions to prevent more infections.
What should you do if you have a fever?
Doctors say that for fever up to three days, one can stay at home and maintain hydration. “Most fevers seen during the monsoon are viral and are likely to resolve on their own. People can stay at home, rest, and maintain hydration unless there are any concerning symptoms. They can take paracetamol to lower the fever if needed,” says Dr Atul Gogia, senior consultant of internal medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital-Delhi. He warns against using any other medicine such as painkillers or antibiotics as it may lead to complications depending on the infection.
So, when should you go to the doctor? Dr Gogia says people should watch out for the following symptoms: high grade fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit that is not subsiding despite medication, severe headaches, not passing urine, difficulty breathing, red spots or rashes on the body, more than 10 loose stools in a day, or excessive vomiting. He asks people to see a doctor if they are experiencing these symptoms.
As for precaution, wearing clothes that cover the hands and legs can prevent mosquito bites during the day that can cause dengue, not eating or drinking from roadside vendors can help prevent water-borne diseases, and maintaining hand hygiene can keep the infections at bay.
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