Dhaka: The risk of death among dengue patients is rising as many are arriving at hospitals too late for effective treatment, Professor Dr. Abu Zafar, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Zafar emphasized that patients are often coming to hospitals late, in critical condition, which limits the opportunity for proper treatment. He stressed that public awareness is essential to overcome this situation, as failure to seek timely treatment increases the risk of death. He shared these insights during a press conference at the DGHS conference room.
Dr. Zafar explained that if treatment is not initiated at the very onset of the disease, dengue can rapidly progress into severe forms. Once complications such as shock, hemorrhage, and organ failure appear, saving patients becomes extremely difficult.
Highlighting the demographics affected, Dr. Zafar noted that the highest mortality this year has been observed among patients aged 20 to 30, many of whom were admitted to hospitals six or seven days after fever onset and died within two to three days of admission. Children have also shown a higher risk of death.
The DGHS chief stressed the importance of public awareness, advising that anyone with fever should undergo dengue testing immediately and not neglect the symptoms. He warned that delayed diagnosis and treatment elevate the risk of death, and that public awareness is crucial in controlling infectious diseases like dengue.
In analyzing the causes of 113 dengue-related deaths this year, it was found that most patients suffered from shock syndrome, organ failure, or other critical conditions before death. Dr. Zafar noted that Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) accounted for the largest number of fatalities.
The DGHS report detailed that 56 patients died due to DSS, while 36 died from Expanded Dengue Syndrome (EDS). One death was attributed to Dengue Hemorrhagic Syndrome (DHS). Additionally, nine patients died from combined DSS and EDS, five from organ failure and multiple organ dysfunction, and six from dengue complicated by cardiac shock.