Blood platelets in demand as dengue cases rise in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: With the arrival of the monsoon season, dengue cases are surging in Bengaluru. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to survey 12 lakh houses in the eight zones most of which are in slums and low-lying arears, close to rajakaluves and adjacent to each other. Wherever any symptoms are seen, rapid tests will be conducted

One of the significant risk factors of dengue is a drop in platelets count. According to the Basavanagudi National Blood Fund, Bengaluru, the rising dengue cases and increasing cases of hospitalisation have led to a significant demand for blood platelets. To address this, the blood bank plans to organise blood donation camps across the city to collect platelets.

As of now, 1,230 dengue cases have been reported in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits from January to June 2024, with the highest numbers in Mahadevpura (386), East (218), South (190), West (141) Bommanahalli (122), Yelahanka (90) RR Nagar (75) and Dasarahalli (08).

Bengaluru has seen a significant number of dengue cases, with 9,434 cases reported in 2019, 1,127 in 2020, 1,629 in 2021, 2,335 in 2022, and 11,136 in 2023 (with 732 cases reported from January to June 2023). This year, 1,230 cases have been reported from January to June.

The increasing demand for platelets is due to the rising number of dengue cases in the city. Dengue fever affects the blood, causing a drop in platelet count and white blood cells. Platelets are essential for blood clotting, and a low platelet count can lead to symptoms like bleeding gums, blood in urine and stool, and easy bruising. Dengue patients need to increase their white blood cells and platelets, which are vital for the body’s immune system.

The city is facing a shortage of platelets, with a demand for 150 units of random donor platelets and 50-60 single donor platelets per day. Blood banks are organising several blood donation camps to fulfill this demand.

Symptoms of low platelet count include bleeding from the nose, rashes on the skin, blood in the urine, excessive bleeding during menstruation, bleeding gums, slow healing of injuries, blood in stool, blood in vomit, internal bleeding, and frequent headaches in dengue patients.

Meanwhile, six-year-old Saniya from Kadur taluk in Chikkamagaluru district, succumbed to dengue fever at a private hospital in Shivamogga, despite receiving treatment. Her father Asif has accused the government of negligence and demanded better facilities in government hospitals.

Asif said, “I don’t want anyone to suffer like my daughter did. The government must upgrade facilities in government hospitals, or people will lose faith in the system”.  He also noted that his daughter’s condition deteriorated due to the lack of proper treatment in a government hospital.