Suhrawardy swamped with dengue patients

With 1,156 dengue patients hospitalised as of yesterday, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital has topped the list of hospitals treating dengue patients this year, followed by Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Mugda Medical College Hospital and Mitford Hospital.

According to DGHS, 767 dengue patients were hospitalised at DMCH, 752 at Mugda and 318 at Mitford.

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DMCH recorded the highest number of deaths this year, with 13, followed by Kurmitola General Hospital and Mitford with four each, Mugda with three and Suhrawardy with two.

The overall dengue situation is less severe than at the same time last year.

At least two dengue patients died and 672 were hospitalised in the 24 hours till yesterday morning, the highest single-day tally this year. So far this year, 19,345 cases and 61 deaths have been recorded, compared with 23,735 cases and 98 deaths during the same period last year.

At least two dengue patients died and 672 were hospitalised in the 24 hours till yesterday morning, the highest single-day tally this year. So far this year, 19,345 cases and 61 deaths have been recorded, compared with 23,735 cases and 98 deaths during the same period last year.

As of August 9 last year, Mugda had the highest number of dengue admissions, with 1,002 patients, followed by DMCH with 907, DNCC Dedicated Covid-19 Hospital and Kurmitola with 482 each, and Mitford with 450. DMCH also recorded the highest number of deaths, with 23.

HM Nazmul Ahsan, associate professor at Suhrawardy hospital, attributed the high patient load to improved dengue management, a low death rate, strong recovery rate, location and a large catchment area.

“Patients are coming from nearby areas, and Suhrawardy is well connected with those areas. If the prevalence of dengue is higher in the areas surrounding a hospital, more patients naturally come to that nearby and accessible hospital,” he said.

In previous years, areas around Old Dhaka and Mugda had higher dengue prevalence, resulting in greater patient loads at hospitals serving those areas, he added.

Suhrawardy has also expanded its capacity, opening two additional wards three to four weeks ago. Both are now nearly full, with a combined capacity of around 120 beds, said Nazmul, adding that his ward alone had around 30–40 patients yesterday morning, with dengue patients being treated alongside others in the general wards.

Most patients being admitted now have serious complications, including hepatitis, shock caused by dangerously low blood pressure, and fluid accumulation in the chest or abdomen, he said.

He said improved dengue management has improved outcomes, particularly in hypertension cases, and stressed the importance of the right intravenous fluid at the right stage of illness.

“Treatment is not simply about giving fluids,” he said, adding that treatment depends on the patient’s haematocrit and other clinical findings and may include saline, plasma solutions, dextran or blood transfusions.

He also stressed physician training, saying doctors in his unit are now highly skilled in dengue management.

Nazmul urged patients to seek medical advice at the appropriate time. Severe dengue often develops on the third or fourth day of fever, while early symptoms can resemble other viral illnesses.

He advised patients to undergo medical evaluations when fever begins, on the third or fourth day, and again after the fever subsides.

He also urged immediate medical attention if patients develop warning signs such as severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, fluid accumulation, reduced urine output, breathing difficulties, cold hands and feet, or bleeding.

Nazmul said he expects a more comprehensive assessment of the dengue situation after completing his hospital ward rounds later this week.