Over the last few years, Dengue has become a regular disease in India. The effects keep on spreading year after year despite efforts from the government to contain it. Dean and executive director, Clinical Research and Academics at Fortis Healthcare Limited, Upendra Kaul, through his
Dean and executive director, Clinical Research and Academics at Fortis Healthcare Limited, Upendra Kaul, through his research, revealed that the disease could be deadly for those who have a heart disease and the study also proves that ECG and ECHO changes were observed in patients admitted with dengue fever but with no prior heart issues.
The research showed confirmed serologically dengue cases in which a detailed study of ECG and ECHO was conducted.
If someone has dengue fever along with chest discomfort, breathing issues, unnecessary fatigue, the treating doctor must get ECG or ECHO did to rule out the possibility of an involvement of heart issues. If the changes are detected at an early stage, a heart disease progression can be averted.
According to Kaul, dengue has now become a seasonal epidemic in India and number of cardiac patients have been coming down with dengue fever. The study found that the patients who have heart problem are affected by dengue at large and are more difficult to handle for doctors.
Sometimes those who have dengue also showed some temporary heart issues. However, these were rectified by a due course of supportive treatment. However, it is important not to overlook any of the symptoms in both the cases.
If someone already has a heart disease, the patient often is on aspirin. In the case of dengue mosquito bites, the heart patient there is often platelet deficiencies in the patients resulting in a critical situation. Continuing aspirin in these patients can be
Continuing aspirin in these patients can be a dangerous situation. Dengue shows its symptoms after 3-14 days of mosquito bite hence it is advised to heart patients that they should keep the environment clean and avoid any mosquito bites.
In the case of fever, they should see a doctor and get appropriate tests done.
The research essentially reveals the following:
ECG changes were in about 50 percent of the dengue cases
- The ECG changes consisted of atrial fibrillation, sinus bradycardia, enhanced ectopy, and abnormalities related to conduction
- 31 percent of the patients were diagnosed with diastolic dysfunctions
- The ECG anomalies reverted to normal b
- The pericardial effusion were resolved at discharge of the patients however, LV dysfunction took up to two weeks to recover
It is usually during the monsoon that dengue spreads and the government collaborating with the health ministry has been running campaigns to combat it.