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| Monday, 17 May 2004 |
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More blood donors needed as dengue patients increase by Vijayani Edirisinghe The Central Blood Bank has appealed to the public to donate blood as dengue patients in large numbers are threatened due to the acute shortage of blood platelets in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Galle, Kandy and Kurunegala hospitals. Platelets are produced from donated blood at these five hospitals. Platelets are produced within eight hours of issuing blood from the blood bank for transfusion to dengue patients who rapidly lose the blood count. The blood count falling below 20,000 platelets endangers a dengue patient's survival. From the time of admission, a dengue patient is given platelets to replace ones lost due to the dengue virus. Torrential rains experienced during the last few days resulted in the spread of dengue on an epidemic level, specially in urban areas surrounding Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Gampaha, Colombo and Kandy. All hospitals should be equipped with a steady stock of blood platelets to treat dengue patients who are increasing daily. |
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