'Dengue deaths rise in 2009 not due to mistaken treatment'

Disna MUDALIGE

The unexpected rise in the number of deaths reported from dengue in 2009 was not due to mistaken treatments given to patients and this claim was baseless, stressed Health Ministry Resident Consultant Physician Priyankara Jayawardena and Infectious Disease Hospital Physician Ananda Wijewickrama.

Addressing a media conference at the Information Department yesterday Dr Jayawardena said the doctors and hospital staff provide their highest possible service with enormous effort and dedication to treat the dengue patients. The recent claim directed at the treatments given to dengue patients might have hurt them, he mentioned.

About 35,000 patients and 350 deaths were reported from dengue in 2009. In 2010, 34,000 dengue patients were reported, but the number of deaths has decreased to 240. This is a significant decline, and we hope with the formulation of "National Guidelines on Management of Dengue Fever and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in Adults and Children" this number could be further reduced. A printed version of the guidelines was also launched to disseminate this knowledge to everyone, he added.

"The nature of dengue changes over time and the treatments should also be changed accordingly. All hospital staff including the doctors and nurses islandwide were made aware of the national guidelines based on new knowledge on dengue over the past four months by conducting workshops. Therefore the public should not doubt the treatments provided for dengue fever, nor they should have an uncertain fear to obtain treatments.

Delay in seeking treatment can also lead to complications," he noted.

He said almost 99 percent of the dengue patients do not face problematic conditions, and the rest who face Dengue shock syndrome would be given necessary treatments under safe limits.

"The idea that platelet transfusion is essential for dengue patients is no more upheld now. Blanket statements cannot be arrived at regarding dengue and the treatments should be decided to suit the patient," he pointed out.

He also revealed that the community belief that ample water consumption is needed for dengue patients is baseless.

"Excess water consumption may dilute the mineral contents in the body. The usual intake of water amounting to two to two and half litres is enough for the body" he observed.

The doctors also made a special request for the parents not to send their children to school or tuition classes with fever.

"Due to the competitive education pattern in the country many parents tend to neglect the fever of their children and get late to obtain treatments. But they should be allowed to rest to be cured. This situation is same for Private sector and bank employees as well" he advised.