Dengue, malaria cases on rise: Here is why Delhi govt has issued advisory on sale of painkillers like Aspirin, Ibuprofen

Amidst rising cases of dengue, malaria and chikungunya, the Delhi government has issued an advisory to chemists against the sale of common medicines like Aspirin, Ibuprofen. The government has asked them not to sell these medicines without a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.

"As you are aware that the incidence of report of detection of cases of vector borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya has been on rise during the rainy season. There is likelihood that the number of cases may increase in pre and post monsoon season which is to be monitored very strictly," the advisory issued by Drugs Control Department says.


"It is desired in public interest that during the season of dengue and chikungunya, use of drugs like Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Diclofenac group of medicines (which further cause destruction of platelets in human blood) may be restricted to be sold against the prescription of Registered Medical Practitioner only."


"Retail chemists are, therefore, advised not to indulge in the over the counter sale of NSAIDs drugs like Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Diclofenac group of medicines with immediate effect till further directions. They are also advised to keep the records of stocks of pain killer drugs falling under this category," it added.

As mentioned by the government in its advisory, these medicines are known to cause platelet destruction in the blood. Despite this, they are prescribed to patients with dengue and malaria in order to ease the body ache associated with these fevers. These drugs control pain and inflammation and hence are prescribed to such patients. In some cases, patients self-prescribe themselves these common medicines and chemists sell these without any prescription.

As the name suggests, vector borne diseases are those that are caused and spread by pathogens carried by vectors like mosquitoes. Common vector borne diseases are Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis, Lymphatic Filariasis, Kala-Azar, Zika, etc.

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), vector borne diseases account for 17% of all infectious diseases. The common ones are malaria and dengue, which cases 400,000 and 40,000 deaths every year.

"Every year there are more than 700,000 deaths from diseases such as malaria, dengue, schistosomiasis, human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and onchocerciasis," the WHO says.

Considering the season, one should be careful of the symptoms of the diseases. The common symptoms associated with vector borne diseases like malaria and dengue are extreme bodyache, pain in the eyes, swollen glands and rashes; rashes are typically seen in dengue patients. Those who suffer from malaria experience severe chills and excessive sweating.

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