Parents cautious as chickenpox & measles knock at door

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Over the past few days, hospitals in Bengaluru have reported an increase in the number of children seeking medical attention for chickenpox and measles, with some cases showing up despite being vaccinated.

According to the Department of Health data, there have been 266 cases of chickenpox and measles reported in the state in the last four months. While chickenpox is usually clinically diagnosed and not typically confirmed in a lab, it poses a significant threat to public health.

Dr Brunda MS, a consultant in the internal medicine section of Aster CMI Hospital in Bengaluru, expressed concern about the increasing trend of chickenpox and measles cases among both adults and children. Another consultant in the paediatrics department at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Dr Yogesh Kumar Gupta, stressed on the importance of vaccination for children, stating that getting vaccinated against chickenpox is vital for prevention.

A senior paediatrician at Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Bengaluru, Dr Naveen Benakappa, also emphasised that the disease can be prevented by administering two doses of vaccine. Although vaccines are highly effective, they are not foolproof, and breakthrough cases can still occur.

Doctors have clarified that the vaccination for chickenpox can be taken even after exposure to the virus and may help reduce the severity of the disease if taken within three to five days of exposure. A noted paediatrician from Telangana, Dr Shivaranjani Santosh, however, advised that the disease can be prevented by following respiratory hygiene and hand-washing to avoid contracting it from droplets, fomites, and infected secretions from the vesicles as per media reports.