ICU at CMCH overwhelmed with measles patients

A heavy, grief-stricken silence was witnessed outside the Paediatric Ward and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) yesterday afternoon.

Anxious parents and relatives were seen waiting outside, while every swing of the door brought the dread of terrible news. Every time a doctor came out and delivered grim updates regarding a child’s deteriorating condition, the corridor would erupt into agonising wails.

At least one child succumbed to measles-related complications in the hospital within 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday, while 121 paediatric patients were admitted to the hospital yesterday with measles-like symptoms, said hospital sources.

Abul Kalam, a day-labourer from Chattogram’s Banshkhali upazila, was seen weeping uncontrollably after being informed that his one-year-old daughter, Tanha, was in critical condition.

Tanha was admitted to the paediatric ward a week ago with a high fever. When she developed severe respiratory distress, doctors advised immediate ICU transfer. However, because no beds were available, she had to wait days in the general ward.

With his voice choking with emotion, Kalam said, “I am a mere day-labourer. Because of my financial strains, I couldn’t afford the ICU at a private hospital. If only I could have admitted her to the ICU sooner, her condition might not have become this critical.”

Nearby, Nasima Begum from Sandwip was sobbing outside the paediatric ICU. Inside, her three-and-a-half-year-old niece was fighting for her life. The child had been in the ICU for a week after being admitted with a severe fever. “The doctors just told us her condition is worsening,” Nasima said.

Ishrat Jahan from Raozan was seen rushing her three-month-old son, Faizan, out of the ICU to a radiology lab for urgent diagnostic tests. The infant was on a portable oxygen cylinder, barely clinging to his life.

“He has severe breathing difficulties and is being treated here for a week. The doctors ordered some tests,” Ishrat said hastily as she wheeled the child away.

The crisis of paediatric ICU beds in CMCH has left many families stranded without critical care. Rizia Begum, who travelled from Maizdee in Noakhali, shared that her 11-month-old grandson, Tanim, developed severe breathing issues three days ago. Doctors recommended an ICU bed immediately, but they have yet to secure one.

“The doctors in the general ward are working to keep him on oxygen support there, but he needs an ICU,” Rizia said.

The 20-bed paediatric ICU in CMCH is currently completely overwhelmed amid a massive surge in patient influx, most of them with measles-related complications, said CMCH Director Brig Gen Taslim Uddin.

“Currently, 15 of the 20 available ICU beds have been dedicated exclusively for measles patients,” he said, adding that a separate isolation ward has also been opened to manage the influx.

Dr Musa Miah, head of CMCH’s Paediatric Department, said his ward was overwhelmed with patients suffering from measles-related complications, with 121 admitted yesterday alone.

Meanwhile, a troubling pattern has been observed among the patients. Several parents noted that their children had actually contracted measles weeks ago, received treatment, and were discharged after recovery. However, shortly after returning home, they relapsed with high fevers and severe respiratory distress, forcing re-hospitalisation.

Dr Nasir Uddin Mahmud Chowdhury, former professor of paediatrics at CMC, said measles devastates a child’s immune system.

“When a child contracts measles, their natural immunity drops drastically. This immunocompromised state can persist for several months after the initial recovery,” he explained.

He advised that during this post-measles recovery phase, parents must exercise extreme caution. “Children need highly nutritious food to rebuild their immunity and must be strictly isolated from other children to prevent secondary, life-threatening infections.”