Hospitals grappling with rising number of young dengue patients | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
June 10, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2025
Hospitals grappling with rising number of young dengue patients

Health

Tawsia Tajmim
10 August, 2023, 10:45 pm
Last modified: 10 August, 2023, 10:49 pm

Related News

  • Rizvi questions govt preparedness over new Covid variant spread
  • Bangladesh reports 5 more Covid-19 cases
  • BNP to stay on streets until Dec election demand met: Gayeshwar
  • DMTCL urges Metro passengers to wear masks amid rising Covid-19 cases
  • DMP conducts special security drill ahead of Bangladesh-Singapore football match

Hospitals grappling with rising number of young dengue patients

Shishu Hospital has stopped providing free dengue tests due to shortage of kits

Tawsia Tajmim
10 August, 2023, 10:45 pm
Last modified: 10 August, 2023, 10:49 pm
Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS

One-year-old Sabiur Rahman faces a double ordeal. Initially battling a blood disorder at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital, Sabiur is now fighting dengue at the same facility.  

Shahana Begum, Sabiur's mother, told TBS that she had come to Dhaka from Tangail as local doctors suspected that her child had thalassemia.

"I brought my child to the hospital to treat one disease and now got another. Now the thalassemia test has been delayed due to dengue," she said. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The urgency of addressing the dengue outbreak often leads to a delayed focus on other critical illnesses, as was the case with Sabiur.

The alarming trend of children contracting dengue has been persistent amid a distressing rise in the mosquito-borne disease, placing additional strain on the capital's hospitals.

According to the health directorate, 25% of dengue patients in the country are children. They also account for 21% of the total number of deaths from dengue. 

The capital's Mugda Medical College and Hospital never had so many young dengue patients as it has had this year.

Hospital authorities say that almost one-fourth of the admitted patients are children. Besides, many children with fever are being treated outdoors.

Dr Abu Shimul Sayeed, child specialist at the hospital, told TBS that multiple patients are receiving treatment in one bed while some are on the floor. 

"Children under one year of age are at higher risk. Dengue tests should be done only if there is fever; it should not be neglected as viral fever. When the fever is gone, the fear starts, then you have to be more careful," he said. 

He mentioned that treating dengue in young children is challenging because their blood pressure cannot be measured properly. 

"Fluid management in children is also challenging. Children can't talk about their own problems and can go into shock at any time. That's why you have to be more careful about children," said the doctor.

Meanwhile, 12 more dengue patients died and 2,959 were hospitalised across the country in the 24 hours till Thursday morning.

With the latest figure, a total of 364 dengue patients have died and 78,028 were admitted to hospitals this year, according to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Dr Sohel Parvez, medical officer, Dengue Cell, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, told TBS that the number of young dengue patients in the hospital is increasing. 

He said the hospital is not admitting patients who come with fever for one or two days and if they can eat orally. 

"We are only admitting patients who are vomiting more than three times a day, and have headache, intolerance to alcohol, diarrhoea and have abdominal pain," the doctor said.

Currently, the number of dengue patients admitted to the 681-bed Bangladesh Shishu Hospital is 119. Ten children have died of dengue in the hospital this year.

Dr ABM Abdullah, emeritus professor and personal physician of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, told TBS that children are at greater risk because their immune system is weak. 

"Children sleep during the day, and Aedes mosquitoes also bite in the daytime. Therefore, using mosquito nets is a must for them. It is better for them to wear full-length trousers and full-sleeve clothes, especially during the dengue season."

The two dengue wards of Shishu Hospital wore a gloomy look during a visit by TBS on Wednesday. It was seen that most young patients were being administered saline while some parents were trying to feed their children alongside saline.

Meanwhile, the hospital has stopped providing free dengue tests due to a shortage of test kits.

Every day, at least 20 poor patients are given free dengue tests. However, the facility was suspended on Wednesday due to a shortage of kits. 

The lab officials could not say when the free tests will resume.

Top News

Dengue / Bangladesh / hospitals

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir speaks to reporters at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office on 10 June 2025. Photo: Focus Bangla
    Fakhrul urges interim govt to rethink April election timing
  • A passerby walks near a building on fire at the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
    Russia launches one of war's largest air attacks on Kyiv
  • Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu. Photo: Collected
    Elected govt essential to ensure investors' security: BGMEA president

MOST VIEWED

  • On left, Abdullah Hil Rakib, former senior vice president (SVP) of BGMEA and additional managing director of Team Group; on right, Captain Md Saifuzzaman (Guddu), a Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilot for Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Photos: Collected
    Ex-BGMEA SVP Abdullah Hil Rakib, Biman 787 pilot Saifuzzaman drown in boating accident in Canada
  • A photo showing the former president on his return to Dhaka today (9 June). 
Source: Collected
    Former president Abdul Hamid returns to Bangladesh from Thailand
  • File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar
    Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus leaves for a four-day visit to the United Kingdom from the Dhaka airport on 9 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    CA Yunus leaves for UK; discussion expected on renewable energy investment, laundered money
  • Inside the aid ship stormed by Israeli forces on 9 June 2025. Photo: BBC
    Israeli forces stormed aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg bound for Gaza: Freedom Flotilla Coalition
  • Enhanced surveillance at Ctg airport amid rising global Covid-19 cases
    Enhanced surveillance at Ctg airport amid rising global Covid-19 cases

Related News

  • Rizvi questions govt preparedness over new Covid variant spread
  • Bangladesh reports 5 more Covid-19 cases
  • BNP to stay on streets until Dec election demand met: Gayeshwar
  • DMTCL urges Metro passengers to wear masks amid rising Covid-19 cases
  • DMP conducts special security drill ahead of Bangladesh-Singapore football match

Features

File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

1d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

3d | Bangladesh
Illustration: TBS

Unbearable weight of the white coat: The mental health crisis in our medical colleges

5d | Panorama
(From left) Sadia Haque, Sylvana Quader Sinha and Tasfia Tasbin. Sketch: TBS

Meet the women driving Bangladesh’s startup revolution

6d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Greta Thunberg deported from Israel

Greta Thunberg deported from Israel

8m | TBS World
BNP is not a revolutionary party: Mirza Fakhrul

BNP is not a revolutionary party: Mirza Fakhrul

58m | TBS Today
Trump sends 2,000 more National Guard and 700 Marines to Los Angeles

Trump sends 2,000 more National Guard and 700 Marines to Los Angeles

1h | TBS World
Prison irregularities will be punished, warns Home Affairs Advisor

Prison irregularities will be punished, warns Home Affairs Advisor

1h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net