One died of Dengue in Kalimpong

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 7 October 2013: The first death by Dengue fever the dread-est disease of the south east Asia and the plains is reported from Kalimpong. 

Padma Golay (47) a staff nurse of Kalimpong Sub Divisional hospital died today from dengue, confirmed the hospital source. 

As per the SD hospital record sixteen cases of the illness is registered and are undergoing treatment. Suffering from high fever Golay was admitted on October 4 and her blood test report indicated that she was positive to 2 of the immunoglobin antibodies and her platelet count was below normal. 

But during her treatment her condition deteriorated instead of improvement and on October 7 she was referred to Siliguri but she died on the way before reaching Siliguri. 

"Golay's death is caused by Dengue" confirmed SDMOH Dr. D Sonam "but the cause and place of transmission is yet to be ascertained", added Dr. Sonam. 

"So far sixteen patients of Dengue are being treated here and of these ten male and six female will be given utmost care but we lack adequate and proper facilities to diagnose the fever", he added. 

There are several case of Dengue being treated in the different hospitals within the Kalimpong Sub division but so far no death is reported. Many are also being treated by private clinics and it is estimated to be more than 50 cases. 

The first case was reported from Rambi. 

Dengue is transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquito infected with dengue virus. Its symptom appears within 3-14 days after the bite. Symptoms range from mild to high fever and pain in the muscles, joints and headache and behind the eyes with rashes in the different parts of body. So far no medicine has been discovered for treating Dengue. Instant hydration (drinking warm water) and avoiding medicines like combiflam, brufen, aspirin and related drugs. Drinking of papaya leaf juice for increasing the platelet number is locally reported to be highly effective.

Some restriction in the food habit, taking rest and taking of vitamins for increasing the immune system is the only treatment of this dreaded disease.

Avoiding the bite and destroying the habitation of this mosquito which bites in the day time and lives in the clean water are the only precautions one could make.