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Dengu strikes back but
govt yet to wake up
Four dengue patients have so far been identified at the city hospitals, but precautionary measures by the government are very poor, sources said. "The government did not take initiative to install three platelet detectors although the World Health Organisation (WHO) has allocated fund to this end," said one source, who asked not to be named. Platelet separators are used to separate platelets from blood for treatment of dengue patients. The machines have been allocated for Shishu Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where most dengue patients were treated last year. There is only one platelet separator at Red Crescent Blood Centre at Mohammadpur. The Health Department did not publish the much-talked-about "National Guideline for Dengue Management", a brochure for the physicians who treat dengue. The source said the directorate of Disease Control was assigned to publish the brochure in Bangla last year, but the department did not pay heed to it. Four patients were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Shishu Hospital. Of them, one was released from the Shishu Hospital while the condition of another patient has improved and would be released soon. The condition of patients at DMCH is gradually improving and they would be released soon, the on-duty doctors said. The onset of the disease is a little earlier this year due to arrival of rain, Kanakranjon Talukdar, director of Disease Control told The Daily Star. He said, "We apprehend that the dengue would continue in the country this year as there is no way to curb it." Talukdar said prevention is the only way, as no specific antibiotic for the treatment of the disease has been found. The maintaining of fluid should be the focal point of treatment, he added. Some patients died last year due to the ignorance of physicians. "Doctors, patients and guardians have to be cautious but need not to panic," Talukdar said. He also said, "Although we are yet to receive information on dengue fever, we are corresponding with different district offices for information." Aedes mosquitoes lay eggs in the clean stagnant water. However, the incessant rain may wash away the mosquito larvae. As many as 93 patients most of whom are children died of dengue last year, according to the government statistics. However, the number of deaths was much higher. The Aedes mosquito breeds in the artificial water containers not in natural ones. The larva is not easily destroyed and it comes after rain. The mosquito stays at a dark and humid place, as it is a peri-domestic insect. So house owners should keep their yards clean to get rid of Aedes mosquito. We have to control the vector and we have a series of seminars and symposiums on the issue to create awareness among the people, said Prof. Manjoor Hussain Doctors should avoid prescribing Voltarin and aspirin. Only paracetamol should be referred. We should treat by applying medicine not by injecting platelets, which might be dangerous.
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