Dengue patients need immediate hospitalization to reduce mortality rate: experts

Health experts today laid emphasis on immediate hospitalization as the dengue situation in Bangladesh is getting worse this year as the country witnessed a record number of dengue positive cases and deaths.

"All types of dengue positive cases need immediate hospitalization to reduce dengue-related deaths," Dr M Mushtaq Hussain, adviser of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR)." BSS Reports.

Dengue positive patients have been divided into three categories -- A, B, C -- on the basis of severity of the disease, he said, adding dengue positive patients with stable condition are under A category while moderate severe and critical patients are under category B and C.

The health expert said all dengue patients should ensure admission to hospitals for getting remedy from the mosquito-borne disease.

"In order to ensure hospitalization of all infected people, the authorities should take immediate steps to set up primary and secondary hospitals in Dhaka city," Mushtaq added.

Primary and secondary hospitals at district and upazila levels must be improved with adequate medical facilities for dengue patients, he said, adding "We need more dengue dedicated hospitals both inside and outside Dhaka city to handle the epidemic in the country."

The health experts attributed the highest dengue-related deaths to lack of awareness and late hospitalization as the country already has reported a record number of dengue-related deaths.

"Dengue fatality rate is very high this year as people are not aware enough about the disease . . . late hospitalization is another reason for death caused by dengue," IEDCR Director Prof Dr Tahmina Shirin said.

"We are observing that people are not immediately going to doctors after being affected by dengue fever, which is eventually worsening conditions of patients," she added.

Among the four serotypes of dengue viruses: Den-1, Den-2, Den-3, and Den-4, Tahmina said, Den-2 and Den-3 are more active this year. "In most cases, dengue symptoms are not seen. So, we are suggesting people visit doctors immediately after being affected by fever," she added.

Bangladesh has been grappling to stem dengue outbreak as July was the deadliest month since detection of the mosquito-borne disease in 2000 while experts predicted the dengue situation may deteriorate further in the coming August and September.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), July alone recorded 43,854 dengue positive cases with 204 deaths while 20,393 dengue positive cases were recorded and 89 people died from the disease in the past eight days of August.

Talking to BSS, several entomologists said that dengue by now emerged as an epidemic as it spread all over the country but observed that the concerned agencies, particularly city corporations could not take required steps to annihilate mosquitoes.

Dr Ayesha Akhtar, assistant director of Shyamoli TB Hospital, said, "Dengue was detected in Bangladesh for the first time in 2000 and it has turned into epidemic at the beginning of rainy season this year and the dengue situation will be more severe, if the rising trend continue."

"We have to take preventive steps particularly destroying breeding sources of Aedes mosquito to stop outbreak of dengue disease," she added.

City dwellers must be cautious about stagnant water which is the main source of breeding of Aedes mosquito, Ayesha said, adding that even a small quantity of water can grow Aedes mosquitoes leading to the spread of such deadly disease.

As many as 13 dengue patients died and 2,742 were admitted to different hospitals in the country during the last 24 hours till 8 am today (August 8).

"During the period, 1,002 dengue patients were hospitalised in Dhaka city while 1,740 were admitted to different hospitals outside Dhaka," a press release of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

"This year, 340 deaths, the highest in a year since dengue was detected in 2000, were reported from dengue disease while 281 died last year," the daily statement of the DGHS said.

As of August 8, the total number of patients stood at 72,225, the statement read.

Health experts warned the dengue situation may deteriorate this month and in the next month, asking authorities concerned to launch a massive campaign against all types of mosquitoes.

Analysing the amount of rainfall, temperature and humidity in Bangladesh, they described August and September months as the most suitable period for breeding of Aedes mosquitoes.