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Cases of simultaneous dengue-Covid affliction on rise

Double infection poses greater risk


Published : 14 Aug 2021 08:58 PM | Updated : 15 Aug 2021 01:17 AM

The number of patients infected simultaneously with dengue and Covid-19 is increasing in the country, posing a greater risk with doctors being hesitant about the treatment protocol in such cases. 

According to specialist doctors, a patient infected with coronavirus and dengue virus at the same time may cause complications due to the difference in their treatment. 

Further challenges could arise in isolating the patients for Covid-19 and treating for dengue simultaneously due to the difference in nature of the viruses.

Sakib Islam, resident of the capital’s Dhanmondi area recently tested for Covid-19 as well as dengue. He is currently hospitalized in Covid isolation ward while being treated for dengue.

While talking to this correspondent, he said, “I had all the symptoms of infections, both internal and external. I could not tell which symptoms were for which but I tested for Covid first and then dengue.”

IEDCR Director Professor TahminaShirin told Bangladesh Post that people should consider testing for both when feeling ill. The symptoms of dengue and corona are similar so an individual should not risk testing for just one. 

“The country now has treatment for dengue, but when the patient has corona too, he or she needs to be kept in isolation. This is a challenge for the treatment providers”, she said. She added that people should be more aware of the illnesses and symptoms and not taken any cold, fever or other repertory symptoms lightly and consult health experts as soon as possible.

Experts believe that many people in the country now fear every fever to be Covid-16 infection. This leads to them not stepping out of their homes and considering testing for dengue. Some people who test for Covid-19 do not testing for dengue. 

Due to Covid-19 being in the spotlight for some time now, many people take medicine and treat themselves without consulting a doctor believing their illness to be coronavirus. This eventually increases the risk of if the very person is actually suffering from dengue. Platelet levels are much lower soon after dengue is detected as a result of late testing.

While talking to the correspondent of Bangladesh Post, former director of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Be-Nazir Ahmed said, “The number of patients suffering from both dengue and corona is increasing. If someone has fever, they should check for corona first and then dengue. The symptoms of corona and dengue are almost the same, but there are some differences.”

He shared that symptoms of corona include fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, body aches and loss of smell. The symptoms of dengue are fever of 104 to 105 degrees, pain in the back of the eyelids and severe pain and pain in the groin.

He further said that the body may also experience rashes. Some dengue patients may have low platelets four days after infection and may bleed through the nose, teeth, stools, and vomit.

Specialists advised that Covid patients are treated with various drugs including antibiotics, but dengue patients should take only paracetamol, not aspirin. However, if someone has a secondary infection, they may need to take antibiotics as advised by their doctor. 

DGHS held a training programme on August 12 for the doctors of public and private hospitals who provided treatment to dengue patients. They were trained on treatment of a person suffering from both dengue and coronavirus.  

The training was conducted by Bangladesh Society of Medicine. In the event, doctors were briefed regarding treatments of patients carrying both the viruseinfectiod normal and critical conditions. 

Meanwhile, many residents of Dhaka city have complained that there is little to no activity to kill mosquitoes fogging and larvaecidingWhile the city corporations are responsible for eradicating the mosquitoes, city dwellers question their efficiency.

At present, the number of dengue patients is increasing in different places of Dhaka including Dhanmondi, Green Road, Hatirpul, Mohammadpur, Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Uttara, Old Dhaka, Jatrabari, Bashabo, Tejgaon. Besides the capital, dengue is also spreading in the villages.