Hospitalization rate among children with dengue drops

The main government hospital reports a drop in hospitalization of children with dengue – a mosquito-borne disease that can be fatal.

On Sunday, the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) admitted six children with dengue.

Ahmed Faisal, a pediatrician at the hospital, said on Thursday that the hospitalization rate has dropped.

“There are now two or three hospitalized children,” he said.

Faisal warned that despite the current drop in the hospitalization rate, there is always a risk that the number of young dengue patients who require hospitalized treatment could increase, given the rapid pace at which dengue is spreading in the Maldives.

“There are periodic drops. The number of hospitalized children is low right now. But it may increase suddenly. Its always like this,” he said.

Earlier this week, Faisal said that some of the six children admitted with dengue had required blood transfusions.

He urged the public to take precautionary measures.

Maldives has seen a rise in the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in recent weeks, due to the current rainy weather, which has also resulted in flooding in parts of the country.

The latest information released by Health Protection Agency (HPA) shows 40 cases of dengue and 117 cases of chikungunya – another mosquito-borne disease – was reported within the one-week period from April 28-May 4.

This includes 58 cases of chikungunya and 40 cases of dengue within the first four days of May.

Symptoms of dengue fever include: high fever, headache, joint pain, and nausea.

Meanwhile, symptoms of chikungunya include: fever, headache, and joint pain.

HPA has urged the public to take preventive measures, including: Covering up as much as possible, and using mosquito repellants for exposed areas – whether indoors, or out.

The agency also advised people to keep doors and windows closed at dawn and dusk, and destroy mosquito breeding grounds.