Telangana hospitals are facing a challenging surge in seasonal diseases, including dengue, malaria, and viral fevers, with an overwhelming influx of patients. The spike in cases has strained healthcare facilities, leading to bed shortages and long wait times. Health officials urge residents to take preventive measures to curb the spread.
It’s 3 pm on Tuesday, 27 August at the Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad – the largest paediatric care centre in the city. Hafiza is sitting with her three-year-old daughter just outside the emergency ward, waiting to see the doctor.
Three-year-old Arshiya has been suffering from a fever, runny nose, and body aches for the past five days. “We came on Saturday, and the doctors prescribed some medicine. We took it home, and while the fever goes down after she takes the medicine, it flares up again within an hour or two. The OPD registration was closed, so we’ve come here now,” Hafiza told #Khabarlive.
As Hafiza sits on a steel bench, inside the emergency room, two doctors at their tables are surrounded by a group of anxious parents, holding children aged between six months and four years. A female security guard outside the emergency OP unit is instructing the crowd of parents to sit quietly, assuring them that everyone will get a chance to see the doctor.
With the recent continuous monsoon rains in Hyderabad and Telangana, the state is experiencing an unprecedented rise in viral cases. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with many cases confirmed as dengue. Although there have been fatalities in various parts of the state, the state government has denied any mortality linked to the outbreak.
The Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Tropical and Communicable Diseases, commonly known as Fever Hospital in Hyderabad, is also witnessing an unusual surge in viral and dengue cases, both in the OPD and emergency wards.
Staggering number of cases
At Niloufer Hospital’s OPD ward, registration closed at 12.30 pm but an hour later, parents with their children in their laps were still occupying all the seats, waiting to see the doctors.
“We usually see this kind of rush in September or October, but it has surged in the past week. The number of patients has quadrupled compared to May-June, and most cases are seasonal flu. We send them for testing, and they return for follow-up at the review OP,” a doctor at the OPD ward of Niloufer Hospital told.
The doctor added that most of these patients initially present with viral fever. “High fever, cough, and irritability are common symptoms in kids. Many of these patients first visit nearby doctors and come to us after three or four days,” the OPD doctor said.
When *#Khabarlive* attempted to speak with the Superintendent of Niloufer Hospital regarding the number of cases the hospital handles daily, his representative stated that only the Health Minister and the Director of Public Health are authorised to speak to the media.
Meanwhile, the records keeper reported that more than 1,100 cases are being registered daily at the OPD, with around 1,200 cases handled in the emergency ward and 120-150 admissions at Niloufer Hospital each day. Similarly, Fever Hospital is seeing around 750-800 cases of viral fever daily.
Pharmacists at both hospitals said that they are dispersing paracetamol to nine out of ten patients.
Additionally, a microbiologist at Niloufer Hospital mentioned that out of 100 samples sent for dengue testing, about 15 test positive for dengue IgM.
Observation by doctors
A doctor working in the emergency ward at Niloufer Hospital said that three out of four pediatric patients are presenting with symptoms of viral fever.
“Initially, these patients visit the OPD, where they are advised to undergo tests, but some skip them, thinking the prescribed medicine will be enough. However, when the condition isn’t properly diagnosed, it can become serious, leading them to end up in the emergency ward,” the doctor explained.
She also mentioned that while symptoms related to dengue are prevalent, not all tests confirm dengue. “Some of these patients just have viral fever, along with conditions like monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies or acute febrile illnesses. Admissions have increased in the last few weeks, but the mortality rate remains low—some days we observe one or two deaths,” the doctor in the emergency ward said.
The OPD doctor added that many patients come to the hospital after local nursing homes fail to provide adequate care. “Initially, these patients are given standard medicines, but they don’t receive the care they need. Their platelet counts drop, and their blood pressure falls,” she explained.
Health department’s response
Meanwhile, Telangana’s Director of Public Health reported that from January 1 to August 25, 2024, a total of 5,372 dengue cases were confirmed out of 81,932 samples tested, resulting in a positivity rate of 6.5 percent.
The top 10 high-risk districts for dengue are:
- Hyderabad: 1,852 cases
- Suryapet: 471 cases
- Medchal Malkajgiri: 426 cases
- Khammam: 375 cases
- Nalgonda: 315 cases
- Nizamabad: 286 cases
- Rangareddy: 232 cases
- Jagtial: 185 cases
- Sangareddy: 160 cases
- Warangal: 110 cases
In the same period, 152 Chikungunya cases were reported out of 2,673 samples tested, with a positivity rate being 5 percent. High-risk districts for Chikungunya include Hyderabad (61 cases), Wanaparthy (17 cases), and Mahabubnagar (19 cases).
Additionally, 191 malaria cases were reported from 2,319,283 samples tested, with a positivity rate of 0.008 percent. As part of Telangana’s Fever Survey, which began on 23 July, a total of 265,324 fever cases have been identified as of 25 August 25.
In response to the surge in dengue and seasonal fevers, State Minister for Medical, Health, and Family Welfare Damodar Raja Narasimha held a high-level review meeting. During the meeting, the minister instructed senior officials from the state medical and health department to implement measures to control dengue and other seasonal diseases.
Key directives from the minister:
- Establishing a control room under the supervision of the State Director of Public Health.
- Organising a special drive in collaboration with local representatives and relevant departments to prevent the spread of seasonal diseases across the state.
- Ensuring officials from the State Medical, Health, and Family Welfare Departments visit districts and submit reports on dengue control efforts.
- Providing clear guidelines to ensure better treatment and the availability of essential medicines in government hospitals for those affected by seasonal diseases.
- Launching awareness campaigns to educate the public on preventing seasonal diseases.
- Conducting a targeted drive against dengue throughout the state.
The surge in seasonal diseases has overwhelmed hospitals across Telangana, stretching healthcare resources to their limits. With rising cases of dengue, malaria, and viral fevers, hospitals face a critical shortage of beds, medicines, and medical staff. Immediate intervention and public health measures are crucial to curb the escalating health crisis. #hydnews #khabarlive
