Dengue-like viral fever piles more pain

KOLKATA: Viral diseases with symptoms close to dengue, including high fever with rigor, rashes and even a platelet count drop, are on the prowl in Kolkata. Even though benign, at least one virus has the potential to trigger macrophage activation syndrome, which has been a feature of the dengue virus this time, say doctors. Around 50 viral infection victims are now admitted across several hospitals in Kolkata.
Belle Vue Clinic has as many as 18 patients who have neither dengue nor malaria, but symptoms very close to both.Some even suffered a platelet count drop - a classical dengue symptom. "In some cases, the symptoms were very severe and almost identical to dengue. At the time of admission, there was very little to distinguish the ailment from dengue. Such symptoms could be misleading, so we are not taking any chances," said Samarjit Naskar, critical care expert at Belle Vue. Most viral strains remain undetected, though, added Naskar.
Several patients at Belle Vue had muscle pain and watery eyes, which are not classical virus symptoms. "A family of four had identical symptoms not associated with either dengue or viral attacks. Fortunately, they have recovered but the spate of virus attacks continues," Rahul Jain, internal medicine specialist, Belle Vue.
It is the EB virus (EBV) that has often been laying Kolkatans low, according to Shyamasis Banerjee, senior consultant at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals. "Around 10% of our patients are suffering from viral attacks. These are not fatal infections but are close to dengue in terms of symptoms. The EBV, for instance, could lead to macrophage activation syndrome. It is usually characterized by an upper respiratory tract infection. We have had a few patients struck by the H1N1 virus, too. One even had the tuberculosis virus but has now recovered," said Banerjee.
At Medica Superspecialty Hospital, around a dozen are admitted with viral infections. Some have even developed rashes, much like haemorrhagic dengue patients. But these patients have nothing to fear, according to critical care head Arindam Kar. "There has been a scare following the dengue deaths this week. But viral attacks continue almost throughout the year. At this time of the year, there's usually a spurt and this year hasn't been different. Some of the viral attacks are severe, even though benign. The ones triggering rashes have led to a scare. But they don't lead to an internal haemorrhage as in dengue. We have encountered multiple viruses this time and some are indeed close to dengue," said Kar.
Most viruses remain undetected since hospitals and patients cease to conduct tests once the patient starts recovering. AMRI Hospital Salt Lake doesn't admit viral attack patients unless they are very critical. "Most of these viruses strike with symptoms that look threatening, but lose their sting after a couple of days. They are self-limiting and rarely turn out to be fatal. But some like the EBV, in a few rare cases, may cause long-term damage. These include hypoplastic anaemia and cardiac ailments," said Debashish Saha, consultant at AMRI.