Rise for demand in platelets leading to chaotic situation in Delhi

With over 800 cases dengue cases reported in the city so far, the situation is only getting worse as ignorance drives the demand of platelets in the city

The Health Department has recently expressed strong concern that the influx of dengue patients has led to a lot of unnecessary demand for the platelets, driven largely by medical ignorance. As quoted by a Health Department official to PTI, "All dengue patients do not need blood or platelets. If there are no bleeding manifestations, in terms of bleeding from nose, gums, mouth, under the skin, or in the vomit, urine or stool, even if one's platelets fall up to 20,000 the person should not panic,".

The demand and supply situation has become more concerning for the doctors as people (who suffer from dengue) have already made this assumption that platelets have to be transfused if the platelet count falls below one lakh-which the doctors say is wrong. The entire dengue management is based on fluid management and platelets are required to be transfused if the count goes below 10,000 and even then only if there are signs of bleeding.

More alarming if the fact according to the doctors at government hospitals, due to dengue scare people are rushing to hospitals to secure platelets as a result of which patients who really need blood transfusions are getting adversely affected.
With dengue scare gripping the city and people rushing to secure platelets needed for the management of the fever, stocks at several blood banks in the city have gone down even as health officials stressed that transfusion is not necessary in all cases.

In view of the situation, health department and civic body officials today urged people not to panic, stating that platelet transfusion plays a limited role in the management of dengue fever and is not necessary in all cases.

"Platelet transfusion plays a limited role in management of dengue fever and thus is not necessary in all cases. People contracting dengue do not need to panic as in initial stages a patient needs fluid management.

"Several patients who are critically ill and need blood transfusions, are affected due to this dengue scare because people are rushing to hospitals to secure platelets," said a doctor.

Some health experts also blamed the doctors who do not have full knowledge of the disease and end up generating a scare among people about the disease.

The Guidelines for Dengue Management of the World Health Organisation has no mention about platelets transfusion.

"Also, drop in platelet count is no confirmation of dengue, as it could be due to other infection. So specific test should be done to confirm if one has contracted dengue," said the official.

The city has till August 29 reported 831 cases with north Delhi recording the highest at 352 and south Delhi 220. East Delhi posted the lowest with 73 cases while 115 cases were reported from areas outside the jurisdiction of the three municipal corporations.