Hospitalisations due to dengue surpass 1 lakh mark with 9 new deaths

Nine more people died of dengue and 2,197 were hospitalised across the country in the last 24 hours till Monday morning, taking the total number of cases to 1,02,191, the highest ever cases recorded in a year in Bangladesh.

Previously, the highest number of dengue cases was 101,354 recorded in 2019.

Dr Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, associate professor of Internal Medicine at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, told TBS that around 90% of dengue patients are mildly infected and do not need to go to hospital. They can get treatment at home. The rest 10% can have severe dengue.

"If someone feels very weak and has any kind of bleeding, severe abdominal pain, shortness of breath, or abdominal swelling, the patient should go to hospital. Pregnant women, children, elderly and comorbid patients should also go to the hospital if they are infected with dengue,'' added Dr Chowdhury.

Dr Chowdhury suggested that dengue patients who are being treated at home should take proper rest and have plenty of liquid such as water and juice. Only paracetamol should be taken for fever or body aches. Blood pressure should be monitored frequently. If the gap between the upper and lower blood pressure is more, the patient should go to hospital.

With the latest figure, this year witnessed the demise of 485 dengue patients, according to data released by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Of the new cases, 872 were reported in Dhaka city and 1,325 were from various parts of the country.

A total of 7,686 dengue patients, including 3,607 in Dhaka, are now receiving treatment at hospitals in the country, shows the DGHS data. So far, 94,020 dengue patients have been discharged from hospitals this year.

So far, Dhaka and Chattogram divisions have reported the highest number of dengue cases.

The country recorded 281 deaths caused by dengue in 2022, the highest after 179 deaths recorded in 2019.