Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection. Its global incidence has grown dramatically in recent decades. There is no specific treatment for this, but early detection and proper medical care lowers fatality rates below 1%. Dengue prevention and control depends on vector control measures. It is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide. Recently, transmission has increased predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas. Today, severe dengue affects most Asian and Latin American countries. There are four distinct serotypes of the dengue virus.

WHO currently estimates 50–100 million dengue infections worldwide every year. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries.

Dengue is present almost throughout India and is a major public health concern. Aedes aegypti is the main vector and A. albopictus is secondary for its transmission. Outbreaks of dengue were first reported in 1963–1964 along the eastern coast. Under IDSP above 350 outbreaks have been reported from 2010 to 2013. More cases are reported between mid-Septembers to November.

The reporting of dengue cases and deaths started in Punjab in the year 1997. It gradually increased showing spurt after every 2–4 years. From 1997 to 2008 the magnitude of cases and deaths reported from the district Ludhiana remained the highest. There was reporting of 239 cases of dengue and 1 death in the year 2009. There were 12820 cases of dengue in Punjab from the year 2010 to 2013. Maximum number 5421 and minimum 3 had been observed in months of October and April respectively. During these years no case has been found from January to March.

There was reporting of 4 suspected cases of dengue in Amritsar in the year 1997 and gradually increased to196 cases and one death in the year 2008 from the city area only. Maximum cases, 174 (88.78%) were reported in the age group of 16 to 50 years and no case was reported in infants. Higher number of male cases was reported. Majority of the cases have been reported in the months of October and November.

Data were collected from the IDSP branch of Civil Surgeon's Office, Amritsar. These were analyzed and the valid conclusions were drawn.

In the district Amritsar suspected cases of dengue found positive by Ig G and Ig M tests were reported till the year 2008 and after that confirmed cases of dengue found positive by Ig M Mac Elisa and NS-1 Ag Elisa Kits have been reported. From the year 2009 to 2013 period 557 confirmed cases of dengue have been reported. Out of these maximum number 244 (43.8%) is reported in the year 2013. A rising trend of dengue has been observed in these years except for the year 2012. No dengue case has been reported in infants. Maximum no. of cases 161(28.9%) have been reported in the age group 21–30 years with the age wise difference significant statistically. There were 215 (38.6%) female cases and 342 (61.4%) male cases. The minimum % age was 36.1% (88 out of 244 in year 2013) and maximum was 47.2% (25 out of 53 in year 2009). The difference of sex wise distribution was insignificant statistically. No case was reported from January to July in all the years. Out of total 557 cases 291(52.2%) were reported in October and 200 (35.9%) in November with the month wise difference highly significant statistically. Guru Nanak Dev, Civil, Escorts, Guru Ram Das, EMC the major hospitals in Amritsar city reported 323 (57.9%) cases while other hospitals reported 230 (41.3%) cases and 4 (0.7%) cases of this district sought treatment from DMC hospital, Ludhiana. The difference of hospital wise distribution was highly significant statistically.