Amid monsoon in India, dengue cases have spiked in several parts of the country including Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Delhi and Maharashtra.
According to the latest data from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), 246 cases of dengue have been recorded in the national capital till June 30 this year. During the same period in 2023, Delhi recorded only 122 cases, 143 cases in 2022, 36 cases in 2021 and 20 cases in 2020.
"While primarily known for causing flu-like symptoms, dengue has profound neurological implications that are often overlooked," Dr Praveen Gupta, Senior Director and Head of Neurology, Fortis Hospital Gurugram, told IANS. .
"Neurological manifestations of dengue, although less common, include encephalitis, meningitis and myelitis. These conditions arise when the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier, causing inflammation and infection of the brain and spinal cord," he explained.
Patients with severe dengue may experience headaches, altered mental status, seizures, and even coma. The neurotropic nature of the virus means that it can directly infect neuronal cells, causing damage and inflammation. Additionally, the immune response triggered by the infection can exacerbate these neurological problems, making treatment complex.
Dengue is a disease transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It is endemic in more than 100 countries and affects about 400 million people worldwide each year.
Dengue fever increases significantly during the monsoon season due to increased mosquito breeding. During the monsoon, stagnant water and increased humidity create ideal conditions for the Aedes mosquito to thrive, leading to an increase in dengue cases.
"Dengue can affect many parts of the human body, including the nervous system. When it affects the nervous system, the presentation will be like a brain fever. Patients may have altered levels of consciousness and difficulty speaking, strokes, seizures or seizures. and they might have bleeding in the brain also due to low platelet levels," Dr Srikantha Swamy, senior consultant neurology at Aster RV Hospital in Bengaluru, told IANS.
"As is known, when platelets are low, hemorrhages occur in different parts of the body and can also occur in the brain. When platelets are low and a patient is diagnosed with dengue positive, this affects the nervous system and progress usually be bad," the doctor added.
Experts noted that the increase in neurological complications of dengue during monsoons underlines the need for early recognition and intervention. Health systems should be vigilant in monitoring for signs of neurological involvement in dengue patients, particularly during periods of maximum transmission.
Preventive measures such as mosquito control and public awareness campaigns are crucial to mitigate the impact of dengue on neurological health during the monsoon season.
According to the latest data from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), 246 cases of dengue have been recorded in the national capital till June 30 this year. During the same period in 2023, Delhi recorded only 122 cases, 143 cases in 2022, 36 cases in 2021 and 20 cases in 2020.
"While primarily known for causing flu-like symptoms, dengue has profound neurological implications that are often overlooked," Dr Praveen Gupta, Senior Director and Head of Neurology, Fortis Hospital Gurugram, told IANS. .
"Neurological manifestations of dengue, although less common, include encephalitis, meningitis and myelitis. These conditions arise when the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier, causing inflammation and infection of the brain and spinal cord," he explained.
Patients with severe dengue may experience headaches, altered mental status, seizures, and even coma. The neurotropic nature of the virus means that it can directly infect neuronal cells, causing damage and inflammation. Additionally, the immune response triggered by the infection can exacerbate these neurological problems, making treatment complex.
Dengue is a disease transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It is endemic in more than 100 countries and affects about 400 million people worldwide each year.
Dengue fever increases significantly during the monsoon season due to increased mosquito breeding. During the monsoon, stagnant water and increased humidity create ideal conditions for the Aedes mosquito to thrive, leading to an increase in dengue cases.
"Dengue can affect many parts of the human body, including the nervous system. When it affects the nervous system, the presentation will be like a brain fever. Patients may have altered levels of consciousness and difficulty speaking, strokes, seizures or seizures. and they might have bleeding in the brain also due to low platelet levels," Dr Srikantha Swamy, senior consultant neurology at Aster RV Hospital in Bengaluru, told IANS.
"As is known, when platelets are low, hemorrhages occur in different parts of the body and can also occur in the brain. When platelets are low and a patient is diagnosed with dengue positive, this affects the nervous system and progress usually be bad," the doctor added.
Experts noted that the increase in neurological complications of dengue during monsoons underlines the need for early recognition and intervention. Health systems should be vigilant in monitoring for signs of neurological involvement in dengue patients, particularly during periods of maximum transmission.
Preventive measures such as mosquito control and public awareness campaigns are crucial to mitigate the impact of dengue on neurological health during the monsoon season.
