A 26-year-old south Mumbai resident was treated for a rare manifestation of dengue affecting the spine leading to acute urine retention. According to experts, while the dengue virus is rarely known to attack the spinal cord and handful of cases have been reported in medical literature. The person who owns a computer shop in South Mumbai, was admitted with fever and platelet count of 70,000 (normal range 1.5 lakh to 4 lakh).
What were the effects on the patient?
Dr Pratit Samdhani, physician at Jaslok Hospital said: "He is admitted 15 days back for dengue. On the second day of admission, he had acute urine retention. We then went for series of tests to find out the cause."
The MRI scan of the spine and lumbar puncture showed inflammation in neck and cervical spine. "It was clear that the dengue infection had affected his spinal cord. In medical terminology- Acute transverse myelitis is a rare manifestation of dengue but in his case it was rarest of rare as he had multiple areas in spine that got affected," said Dr Samdhani.
What does medical literature say?
Medical literature said that the mechanism of viral transmission and the extent of neuronal injury induced by dengue virus can occur in either the early (periinfectious) or late (post-infectious) phases of dengue fever.
"The early detection holds the key to speedy recovery. For six days he was on catheter as we continued with steroids and other treatment. Luckily he recovered well and was discharged late last week," said Dr Samdhani. Seeing the uniqueness of the case, the doctor will be sending this case to medical journal.
Are dengue cases still rising?
According to BMC health officials and city doctors, the number of dengue cases have started coming down with the dip in temperature. In November, 146 cases of dengue was registered which December first week saw only 17 dengue positive cases.
Mumbai city and suburban districts, which fall under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has recorded the largest number of dengue cases and deaths this year. So far 19 dengue deaths have been registered in Mumbai this year with more than 700 dengue positive cases.
Why were dengue cases high this year?
According to health experts the number of cases reported in this time of the year seems to be higher than the corresponding period last year and that is also because of intermittent rainfall and temperature fluctuation. While National Institute of Virology-Pune report on dengue cases in Mumbai confirmed that two dengue viruses are presently in circulation, doctors say that the symptoms exhibited by maximum dengue patients resembles between type DEN-2 and DEN-4.
