The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

7 more dengue cases at DMCH
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 26
Seven more suspected dengue patients were admitted to the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here during the past 24 hours taking the total the number of cases in the hospital to 87. As many as 29 of them have already tested positive, the doctors at the DMCH said.

A hospital press note said Sukhnandan and Mudit Aggarwal from the city, Chitra Kumari, Sudha Rani, Gurmukh Singh, and Gaurav, all four from Batala town in Gurdaspur district and Chander Shekhar from Hoshiarpur were admitted to the hospital with dengue-like symptoms of the 87 dengue patients admitted to the hospital, 33 have been discharged while 54 are under treatment.

Batala town remains the worst-affected town with 55 patients having reported to the DMCH, followed by Ludhiana with 21 suspected cases of dengue. The other places from where patients were brought to local hospital were Amritsar (3), Jalandhar (3), Kapurthala, Nabha, Ropar, Hoshiarpur and Sangrur with one patient each.

Meanwhile the district health administration, has asked the people to take precautions against dengue in the wake of increasing number of suspected cases from the city.

Dengue: precautions and remedies

THE number of patients suffering from dengue is increasing as the city is in grip of this fever. It affects persons of all age groups. It is a disease of tropical and sub-tropical regions. Its onset is sudden and is characterised by swelling and pain in the joints. Eruptions may also appear on various parts of the body. Redness spreads over the face along with the above symptoms and the rash is like that of scarlatina. Fever ranging from 103 degree to 106 degree is often maximum on the first day. Pulse is very often slow. The throat is sore and eyes run, with pain in the joints as well as in the muscles. The symptoms gradually disappers off in three days leaving the patient very weak. Relapses generally take place and the sideness may last for as long as one month.

The temperature in this fever rises suddenly; before coming back to normal, it again goes up. That is why the temperature in dengue fever is called a “saddleback type temperature”. This fever occurs due to an unknown virus conveyed by mosquitoes. Patient's blood is infectious one day before symptoms of fever appear and continue for the first three days of fever. Mosquito bite is responsible for the spread of dengue. Incubation period of the virus varies from five to nine days.

Precaution and remedies:

* Keep body covered during day and night to avoid mosquito bites.

* Keep surroundings clean. Living rooms should be properly ventilated.

* Coolers, pits should be covered and sprayed with DDT, kerosene.

* Repellent, electric vapour mats and coils should be used.

* Ensure that water is not stored in flower pots, coolers and open water tanks.

* Make a habit to use one teaspoon of neem and bitter gourd juice mixed in half cup of boiled water twice a week.

* When the temperature is high, cold pack may be applied to the forehead.

* Solid food should be stopped, but plenty of water should be given.

* Take the juice of tulsi leaves, 10-15 gm mixed with 304 gm of power of black pepper twice days.

* Special care should be given to diet and nursing. The diet should be very light and easily digestible such as rusk, roasted bread slice, desi herbal tea, lime and fresh fruit juice. Boiled illachi-saunf milk should be given after every three hours in small quantities.

* Avoid alcohol, smoking and fried food during dengue.

* Remember that over and self medication in dengue is likely to lead to further complications.

* Complete bed rest is most important.

— Dr Anil Dheer

Free heart check-up camp
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 26
World Heart Day which falls on September 28 will be celebrated at Gee Ess Heart Centre by organising a free heart check-up camp. In the camp, Dr Gurpreet Singh Wander and Dr Naved Aslam of Hero DMC Heart Centre and Dr Gursharan Singh of Gee Ess Heart Centre will examine patients from 9 am to 3 pm. Various tests for diagnosing heart diseases will be done free of cost.

World Heart Day has been celebrated since 1999 after the initiative taken by the World Heart Federation president, Dr Antoni Bayes de Luna, who had the vision that all federation members should spread the message about ‘Heart health and a heart for life’. This is celebrated in 90 countries across the world, including India, by the federation, WHO and UNESCO with the aim of increasing awareness about cardiovascular disease-risk factors.

The theme for this year’s World Heart Day is dedicated to heart disease and stroke among women.

The idea is to bring awareness among females about the rising heart attacks who usually remain afraid of breast cancer only. Heart disease in women is eight times fatal than breast cancer.

CMCH union submits memorandum
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 26
Upset over the policy of commercialisation and privatisation of Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), the Hospital Employees Union has demanded the sacking of top administrators and their replacement with other deserving persons, who could serve the institution with devotion and missionary spirit.

In a memorandum submitted to the governing body of the CMCH during the annual general meeting, the union held that the present administration had failed to provide justice to employees, better services to patients and proper facilities to junior doctors, interns and medical students. Mr B.M. Frederick, general secretary of the union, has also pleaded that a full-time Director be appointed in place of Dr Silas J. Charles, and demanded an action against the Principal of Christian Dental College, Dr J.L. Joshi.