Daijiworld Media Network - Chengalpattu
Chengalpattu, Aug 16: Several children have been admitted to hospitals after suffering from dengue fever in Tamil Nadu’s Chengalpattu district, sparking concern among parents and the public.
According to a Daily Thanthi report, children affected by the fever are undergoing treatment at various government hospitals, including those in Guduvanchery and Chengalpattu.
Residents said cases of fever are also being reported among adults, with some experiencing symptoms such as headache, vomiting and other health complications.
Concerned residents have urged the Tamil Nadu government and panchayat authorities to take immediate steps to contain the spread of dengue and intensify measures to prevent mosquito breeding.
The development comes amid intensified dengue surveillance across Tamil Nadu. Last month, the Health and Family Welfare Department stepped up monitoring across the state through an inter-departmental strategy aimed at strengthening early detection, tracking disease transmission and eliminating mosquito breeding hotspots.
Officials, however, clarified that there was no immediate plan to introduce Qdenga, the first dengue vaccine approved in India.
Tamil Nadu recorded 20,866 dengue cases and 12 deaths between January and November last year. Health officials attributed the high number of reported cases not to an uncontrolled outbreak, but to the state’s extensive disease surveillance and reporting system, which tracks infections from the primary health centre level to secondary and tertiary care hospitals.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The illness commonly causes high fever, severe headache, body and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and skin rashes.
There is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue. Health officials stress that early diagnosis, adequate hydration and timely medical care are essential to prevent severe disease and fatalities. Sustained mosquito control and elimination of breeding sites remain key measures to curb the spread of the infection.