'Joint, muscular pain common after dengue'

New Delhi, September 24 : Joint and muscular pain for several days after recovering from dengue is common, health experts said on Thursday. They urged people to consume food items containing Vitamin D and E for speedy recovery. They blamed the associated vitamin and mineral deficiency behind making the pain serious and debilitating in 80 percent of the cases. “Several patients complain of muscle and joint pains for as long as two to three weeks after the disease has subsided. This is especially seen in the elderly,” said S.K. Mundhra, head and senior consultant of Interl Medicine at Saroj Super Speciality Hospital.

“Those deficient in micronutrients like Vitamin D, B12 and E are often seen complaining of persisting muscle and joint pains when compared with those who have sufficient amounts of the vital nutrient,” said Mundhra. The tiol capital has witnessed over 3,000 dengue cases this year and recorded over 23 deaths, according to the ciy’s municipal corporations. However, the unofficial figure puts the toll at over 60 with All India Institute of Medical Science alone witnessing five deaths.

Mundhra said at times pain in dengue was so prominent and severe that if the patient, who has recovered from dengue, has grown weak, then the pain may last for months and may be crippling. Explaining the joint and muscular pain, Shobhit Bhardwaj, senior consultant at Delhi-based Yatharth Superspeciality hospital, said: “Two types of pain are associated with dengue. Acute reactive arthritis and other is chronic joint pain.” “Acute stage has symmetric joint involvement of large and small joints of upper and lower limbs with knee being most commonly affected joint.” (IANS)