Dengue taking its toll on little ones

Eighteen-month-old Tabassum Alo was crying on her mother's lap in the children's dengue ward at Mugda Medical College Hospital yesterday afternoon.

Her mother, Monira Akter Moyna, tried in vain to calm her down. The little girl has been undergoing treatment for dengue fever since Thursday night.

"We admitted our daughter with dengue fever, along with vomiting, diarrhoea, and high fever. She had been suffering from fever since Monday, and her condition deteriorated on Thursday when doctors confirmed dengue," said Moyna, a resident of Khilgaon Goran.

Alo's father, Ali Osman, expressed frustration at the lack of mosquito control drives. "We haven't seen any anti-mosquito campaign since August last year," he said.

Nearby, two-and-a-half-year-old Sumaiya Aysha lay sleeping as IV saline dripped into her arm. Her anxious mother, Amina, watched quietly.

"Aysha was admitted on Tuesday after suffering from fever for four days. She also had convulsions, nausea, and diarrhoea," Amina said.

Nine-year-old Mohammad Sayem was admitted to the same hospital on October 14. His parents were deeply worried -- this was his second bout of dengue in two years.

"He had fever and body pain when we brought him in. He's a little better now, but still not well enough to go home," said his mother, Bithi Akter.

According to Kamrunnahar, senior staff nurse at Mugda's children's dengue ward, the number of young patients is rising sharply.

"On average, 20 to 25 children are being admitted to the ward every day. By Friday noon, 22 children had already been admitted," she said.

Children aged from 0–12 years are treated in this ward, while older patients are admitted to the general dengue ward.

According to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 243 dengue patients have died and 58,280 have been hospitalised across the country this year as of yesterday.

Of them, 34 deaths and 2,374 hospitalisations occurred at Mugda Medical College Hospital alone, where 139 patients were still receiving treatment till Friday noon.

DGHS data also shows that at least 12 children aged 0–5 years have died and 3,553 were infected this year, while four children aged 6–10 years have died and 3,190 were hospitalised.

Dr HM Nazmul Ahsan, associate professor at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, said many parents are delaying testing their children this year, even after the onset of fever.

"Children are often brought to the hospital only when their condition turns critical," he said.

Dr Ahsan explained that dengue symptoms in children can appear differently than in adults.

"For adults, symptoms usually start with sudden fever, body pain, and eye pain. But in children, it often begins with nausea and coughing. Infants may cry excessively, refuse to breastfeed, or appear unusually tired," he noted.

He warned that dengue can reach the critical stage faster in children.

"For adults, it may take 48 hours to become critical, but in children, it can happen within just 24 hours. That's why we strongly recommend hospitalisation as soon as possible," he said.

Dr Ahsan also cautioned that children are more prone to developing dengue shock syndrome, which is extremely dangerous.

Urging guardians to be vigilant, he added, "The risk of infection is high at schools and coaching centres. Most schools don't provide full-sleeve uniforms, but these are essential during dengue season. Children's legs should also be covered with long socks and shoes."