Dengue fever cases exceed 10,000 with 567 outbreaks

Specifically, in the first 5 months of 2022, the city recorded 10,052 cases of dengue fever, an increase of 46.4% over the same period in 2021 (6,867 cases); in which, the number of severe dengue fever cases was 194, an increase of nearly 5 times compared to the same period in 2021 (28 cases).

In week 21 (from May 20 to May 26), the city recorded 1,402 cases of dengue fever, an increase of 457 cases (48.4%) compared to the average of 4 weeks ago. Dengue fever cases increased in both inpatient hospitalization and outpatient examination.

According to HCDC, in week 21, the whole city recorded 121 new outbreaks of dengue fever in 71 wards and communes in 15/22 districts, Thu Duc city. The cumulative number of outbreaks by week 21 is up to 567 outbreaks.

The actual record shows that the number of dengue fever cases continues to increase in most districts, Thu Duc city. Wards and communes with a higher number of cases compared to the average of 4 weeks ago are Ward 7 (District 8); Le Minh Xuan commune, Vinh Loc A (Binh Chanh district); Binh Hung Hoa A ward (Binh Tan district); Tan An Hoi commune (Cu Chi district); Tay Thanh ward (Tan Phu district).

Children’s Hospital 1 has just saved a child’s life with a very severe dengue fever. Girl LV (7 years old named LV, living in Ca Mau) has a high fever for 4 days continuously. On the 5th day, V. vomited a lot, so he went to the local medical center. Here, the patient received fluids, tests showed normal liver enzymes.

However, the baby still had a fever, nausea and vomiting, so the family moved to Children’s Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City on May 19. The test showed an increase in liver enzymes 10 times higher than normal. She has a history of hemolytic anemia (Thalassaemia) and had a dengue fever 4 years ago.

After 12 hours of admission, V.’s state of consciousness deteriorated, comatose, and jaundiced much. Worryingly, liver function decreased, liver enlargement with liver enzymes continued to increase 100 times higher than normal, severe blood clotting disorder. Immediately, the baby was intubated to help with breathing and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit – Anti-poison.

At the Intensive Care Unit – Anti-poisoning, V. continued to receive respiratory support, fight cerebral edema, treat severe acute liver failure, continuous dialysis, blood transfusion and blood products.

At the same time, doctors conduct tests to look for causes of liver damage such as Dengue hemorrhagic fever, infection, viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, drug poisoning and metabolic disease…

Despite intensive treatment, the patient still had deep anesthesia, severe liver failure and coagulation disorders. Doctors consulted and decided to exchange large volume of plasma in combination with continuous dialysis for the baby to replace liver function and stabilize blood clotting function.

This decision had unexpected results after that, the liver damage stopped and liver function gradually improved. Test results confirmed that the cause of the condition was dengue hemorrhagic fever. After more than 1 week of intensive treatment, the patient made good progress, stopped dialysis and weaned off the ventilator. The baby was transferred to the Dengue department on May 28 for further monitoring.

Assoc.BS Pham Van Quang, Head of Intensive Care Unit – Anti-poison, Children’s Hospital 1 warned, many children with severe dengue fever were hospitalized because of cardiovascular collapse and multi-organ failure. In which, severe acute liver failure causes hepatic coma, severe bleeding can lead to death.

“Parents must always be alert to dengue fever. Children with fever for 2-3 days or more must be examined at a medical facility for early detection and timely treatment,” he said.