(binhthuan.gov.vn) Although the peak months in the outbreak of dengue fever have passed, the number of new cases in the province continues to be recorded at many times higher than the same period last year, there are even many severe cases. Health experts recommend that the situation of dengue fever is still complicated, and people need to further raise their awareness of disease prevention.

No one is sick at home, neither is it around and it's not the dengue season, so even though she is afraid, Ut still doesn't think her child has dengue fever at home.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Ut, residing in Ham Kiem commune, Ham Thuan Nam district, shared: At first, she thought her kid had a viral fever, not dengue fever, because no one had it in that area. The family bought medicine for the kid to take for 2 days, but the fever did not reduce. Then she brought her kid to hospital for testing and found out that it's dengue fever.

Dengue fever patients is being treated at Binh Thuan Provincial General Hospital

There are quite a few cases like Ut's kid, hospitalized after 02 to 03 days of fever and monitored at home. Only at the Department of Pediatrics, the Provincial General Hospital, from June 2022 to now, has collected and treated more than 2,300 pediatric patients, including more than 250 severe cases. In the last two weeks of February 2023, the hospital recorded a high number of new cases, even with cases of pediatric patients in the same family, hospitalized just a few days apart.

Doctor Phan Thuy Dung, Deputy Department of Pediatrics, Binh Thuan Provincial General Hospital, said: Comparing with every year, the number of dengue fever cases increased significantly, including the number of severe cases. Inpatients in the previous period were less than 10 cases/day. But now, it can be more than 60 inpatients a day; the outpatient clinic alone receives about 20 cases a day.

According to data from the Provincial Center for Disease Control, up to now, the number of dengue fever cases recorded in 10/10 localities in the province increased 6.4 times over the same period in 2022. Notably, the number of severe dengue cases also increased nearly three times over the same period. The province has detected and treated more than 80 dengue fever outbreaks.

Dengue is a year-round disease. Therefore, the health sector warns people not to be subjective, it is necessary to conduct good environmental hygiene in the living area to destroy the larvae. No larva, no mosquito, no dengue.

Regularly cleaning and checking water containers to prevent and control dengue fever

Dr. Che Ngoc Thach, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, Provincial Center for Disease Control, said: “Through the dengue fever inspection and surveillance, we have advised people to regularly clean up, cover jars containing domestic water to prevent mosquito breeding. In addition, people need to wash their vases and jars with water regularly to effectively prevent dengue fever.

According to medical experts, dengue fever can range from asymptomatic, mild to critical/severe. Because clinical manifestations are not specific, it is necessary to closely monitor, promptly detect the dangerous warning signs to quickly go to medical facilities, and intervene early to reduce the risk of death. In addition, dengue fever has 4 different strains (D1, D2, D3, D4), so people get one strain and still can get another, that is, each person can still get up to 04 dengue fever in a lifetime.

When suspected of having dengue fever, patients should immediately go to a medical facility for appropriate examination and diagnostic tests. In the first 3 days, if there is an indication for monitoring at home, it is necessary to follow the doctor's advice. If the patient has more severe changes such as lethargy, struggling, cold limbs, vomiting, etc., it is necessary to immediately transfer to a medical facility for examination. If there are no abnormal developments, it is also necessary to re-examine according to the doctor's appointment.

CCII Doctor Nguyen Minh Tien, Deputy Director of City Children's Hospital, recommends: In order to limit the disease from becoming severe, people need to cooperate with doctors in monitoring their children, monitoring for severe signs for hospitalization. Avoiding folk care (coining, gua sha) or taking drugs of no origin, this will lead to severe disease progression, making it difficult for doctors to treat patients.

Training on treatment of dengue fever

It is forecasted that in the coming time, the situation of dengue fever may continue to be complicated, with the risk of a strong outbreak due to erratic weather conditions, unseasonal rain and high insect index. Currently, the entire health sector is actively coordinating in levels to improve treatment capacity and prevention work at each grassroots level. However, in both prevention and treatment stages, it is still needed the cooperation and awareness of disease prevention from the people./.

Hữu Tri