Drop in dengue due to new treatment methods

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

During the past five months no dengue deaths had been reported from the Lady Ridgway Children's Hospital (LRH), Colombo. Only four dengue deaths had been reported from the hospital during the first two months of this year.

There is a drastic drop in dengue deaths in the country due to the new treatment procedures introduced by the Health Ministry to treat dengue patients, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, the four children who died at the LRH had been transfered to LRH from private hospitals after their condition had become critical. No child directly admitted to the LRH died from dengue within this year.

A majority of dengue deaths were caused due to patients' negligence. The Health Ministry formulated a new protocol to treat dengue patients with the assistance of the WHO.

It contains all relevant and important guidelines for health staff. However, in some state hospitals, these guidelines are not followed accurately and strictly. This leads to complications in treatment. According to the guidelines, dengue patients should be observed continuously and liquids should be measured before they are given to the patient . The ministry has already provided all the modern medical equipment, drugs and training for health staff to implement the new protocol. Meanwhile National Dengue Control Programme Director Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawa said that 16,000 dengue patients and 80 dengue deaths had been reported from all parts of the country up to now (within this year).

He advised persons who suffer from any type of fever for more than three days should seek medical treatment.