Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is undergoing treatment for COVID-19, was diagnosed with dengue on Thursday and his condition has taken a turn for the worse.
Sisodia was moved to the private Max Hospital in Saket from the Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jayaprakash (LNJP) Hospital in the evening, considering his “falling” blood platelet count and low oxygen level, said sources.
He was admitted to LNJP Hospital on Wednesday after complaining of fever and low oxygen levels, his office had said.
Sisodia was admitted to the Max Hospital ICU on Thursday evening. His platelet count was around a lakh in the evening as against the normal rage of 1.5-4.5 lakh per microlitre of blood.
Sisodia is perhaps the first prominent personality in Delhi to have contracted a “double infection” of the novel coronavirus and dengue. He is the second minister in the Arvind Kejriwal government to contract COVID-19 infection after Health Minister Satyendar Jain. Jain had tested positive in June and was later administered plasma therapy.
Sisodia had tested positive for coronavirus on September 14 and was in home isolation. Earlier, an official said the minister had been put on oxygen support as per requirement and had been under constant observation at the LNJP Hospital, which is a dedicated COVID-19 facility. Sources at LNJP Hospital said, “There is no standard protocol for treatment of double infection of COVID-19 and dengue, and treatment is “patient-specific”.
Earlier on Thursday, a doctor said, “The deputy CM will be administered an RT-PCR test in a couple of days.”
Another source said the minister’s age, condition, co-morbidities and other factors will be taken into account for treatment of both the ailments, adding “his condition is currently being assessed”. Asked if there are any side effects of treatments in cases of a “double infection”, the source said, “Any treatment can have a side effect, but the treating doctor decides the methodology for it.”
A dengue patient, if his or her platelet level falls dangerously below the normal level, needs external platelet infusion. Asked if the 48-year-old Sisodia has any co-morbidities, a doctor said, “He has hypertension.”
In a video message hours ago, Sisodia praised the efforts made by doctors at the LNJP Hospital. “I have been brought to the LNJP Hospital after a need was felt for it. But, seeing the spirit with which the doctors and other healthcare workers are serving patients, I must say, as a deputy chief minister, it is very encouraging,” he said.
“It is a wonderful facility here and I am very proud of them. If you need any medical attention in this coronavirus time, LNJP is ready to serve you,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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