Amidst escalating concerns regarding Dengue in the district, health experts are sounding alarms about heightened complications, especially for pregnant women and their infants. The city has witnessed numerous instances of perinatal dengue, underscoring the increased risk of transmitting the virus to newborns when pregnant women test positive.
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Ludhiana has documented multiple cases of perinatal , with a pediatric expert from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) stating that the virus can develop in newborns. While such cases are infrequent, they generally recover well under tertiary care.
Dengue
“We’ve had three deliveries from dengue-positive pregnant mothers, and all three babies were discharged in a healthy condition. The transmission of the dengue virus from the placenta of an infected mother to her newborn is referred to as prenatal dengue. Although rare, if the mother is dengue-positive, the department keeps an extra eye on the child’s health, providing prompt caution and available treatment if necessary,” explained Dr. Deepak Bhat, in charge of DMCH’s pediatric unit.
Gynecologists reveal that due to the recent surge in dengue cases, one to three pregnant women are testing positive for dengue daily.
While 65-70% of women naturally recover, three out of every ten patients report complications that could be fatal for both mother and child if not treated promptly. The mosquito-borne disease can lead to fatal outcomes for either the mother, unborn child, or both.
Dr. Kavita Bhatti explains the risks associated with pregnancy and delivery when the mother is -positive, stating, “If the symptoms of dengue, such as breathlessness, high fever, and low platelet count, are manageable, the patient typically recovers with no serious impact on the fetus.”
“However, if these symptoms worsen or if the mother develops shock syndrome, which is fatal, then the delivery becomes difficult, and it can result in in utero death of the baby. shock syndrome can lead to excessive bleeding, organ failure, and other fatal complications,” she added.
Dr. Ashima Taneja, head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department, emphasizes the high risk poses in pregnant mothers, as worsening symptoms may lead to various complications, including reduced baby weight, heartbeat fluctuations, bleeding, and even death.
Providing an update on the current dengue situation, the civil surgeon reported 12 new positive cases as of November 23, 2023, bringing the total to 1,154 in the district. Currently, there are 79 active cases undergoing treatment in various hospitals.
The civil surgeon noted that as of Thursday, there have been no suspected dengue deaths in the district, maintaining the total at 18.
