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Press conference on "Dengue Fever" |
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July 30, 2000
Dhaka (UNB)- Dismissing the necessity of antibody test for identification of dengue fever, the medical experts yesterday urged the people not to undertake the test as it is not necessary for treatment but an economic burden. They also urged the people not to be panicked for dengue fever because almost all patients recover from the disease. People should not worry for blood or platelet transfusion. The experts further urged the physicians not to send dengue patients for laboratory test, particularly anti-body test. The observation and call came at a press conference on "Dengue Fever" by Association of Physicians of Bangladesh (AOPB) at Bangabandhu Sheik Mujib Medical University last(Saturday) morning. AOPB is the prime organization of all the specialists in the field of medicine or internal medicine (general treatment for various diseases like various fevers (as Dengue), diarrhoea, malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis) and its allied subjects like abdomen, heart, kidney and brain. The press conference was arranged to dispel the fear and panic spread in the country and explain how to scientifically overcome disease. The experts asked the over enthusiastic people to stop taking drug and the physicians should face the situation with rational outlook. There was also a panel discussion on the topic in which BSMMU vice-chancellor Prof MA Quadri, Prof Tofael Ahmed, Prof Mohammad Fazlul Huq, Prof Mobin Khan and Prof Abdul Jalil took part. It was presided over by Prof Mahmud Hasan, president of AOPB and its general secretary Dr Syed Atiqul Haq conducted. Prof MN Alam, head of the Medicine department at BSMMU, in his key note paper presented at the conference said prevalence of dengue has not yet taken an epidemic form, but a large scale out-break. He said antibody (IgG & IgM) test is not necessary for identification of dengue fever as it has no role in treating the disease. "Without having dengue antibody test might be positive. Similarly antibody might be negative having dengue," he said adding the test can be done only for monitoring the outbreak. He said the role of laboratory is insignificant in treating dengue cases. Prof Alam said it is totally meaningless to be apprehensive and panic about shortage or crisis of reagents (Kits). He, however, said platelet counting and test of haematocrit (concentration of blood) is important in detecting the complexity of dengue fever. Both the tests cost a minimum, Tk 40 for platelets. Asked if commercial interest involved in doctors referring dengue cases to laboratory for blood test, Dr Syed Atiqul Huq said he found that many people had done blood test on their own initiative. "I have not send any dengue patient for antibody test." It is not fair if physicians send patients to laboratory for blood test without monitoring the disease, he added. Prof Mobin Khan, head of Hepatology department (deals with liver) at BSMMU said, "When we do not know whether it is dengue or not, then antibody test is done. Now the disease can be identified by clinical symptoms as dengue cases increased." He said one should not be scared as 99 percent patients of dengue were cured. Only 2 to 3 percent might develop complications of DHF and DSS. Complications might develop to those who had once dengue fever. Dr Mobin said dengue fever would not happen from biting of all aedes mosquito except those carried dengue virus. Dr Mohammad Fazlul Huq, Prof of Medicine department at Dhaka Medical College and hospital said reason for scare among the people is the fever itself. But he said 10 percent of the fever is classical dengue fever of which 90 percent did not develop severe symptoms. One percent might develop Dengue Haemorregic Fever of which 1 percent may die. About platelet transfusion, Prof MN Alma said it is necessary only when platelet counting declined to below 10,000 from minimum level 1.5 lakh. "Such situation arose in very rare cases," he observed. About blood transfusion the medicine expert said it is applicable if blood pressure declined due to bleeding. But usually the blood pressure falls due to leakage of plasma (liquid part of blood) and under such situation intravenous fluid is enough. Fever without any symptom has no danger and such kind of fever found in large scale as well as classical (normal) dengue fever has no danger. But during dengue Haemorragic fever, it is necessary to monitor blood pressure while dengue shock syndrome needs emergency treatment, observed Prof Alam. Citing an example Prof Mahmud said, "I have seen one of my relative had become worried for platelet transfusion without necessity." He said awareness should be built up among physicians about dealing dengue fever. "Ordinary physicians are not aware of diagnosis and treatment of the fever." To increase awareness, he said they have taken steps and will hold a seminar on dengue shortly. |