The Star reported that two people, one from Klang and another from Ipoh are the latest casualties of dengue.
V. Sivasubramaniam from Klang, became ill last week and was admitted to hospital on Thursday. He was pronounced dead at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital on Sunday while another victim from Ipoh died at the Ipoh Hospital on Feb 5.
Earlier, Asia Pacific Society for Medical Virology president Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Lam Sai Kit - who once headed the medical team which discover the Nipah Virus, said that the worst of dengue fever is yet to come and everyone must play their roles in combating it. Quote:
“Data from the Ministry of Health shows that dengue outbreak starts in May and peaks two to three months later.” […]
“We cannot predict what will happen when the expected peak season arrives this year. It is all the more important to monitor the situation closely, as is being done by the ministry.” […]
“Don’t leave it to the Government alone as resources are limited. It is impossible for the Government to send fogging teams all over the country to kill the mosquitoes.” […]
Dengue cases continue to rise throughout Malaysia while Selangor reported an alarming near threefold increase compared with the corresponding period last year.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek during his recent visit to Cuba - the only nation that successfully applied anti-dengue and Meningitis B programs, requested that Cuban epidemic prevention specialists help battling dengue.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: I had dengue fever back then on November 2004, been hospitalised for four days at Penang Loh Guan Lye Specialists Centre. Prior to that, I had inconsistent up-and-down fever, vomit and dirrea. I only got red spots over my body during my 3rd day at hospital and mind you, it’s terribly itchy.
The weird thing is that, my temperature became normal and I started to eat regularly since admission. Currently, there is no proper medication on dengue, only take Paracetamol thrice a day - to curb my fever, I guess. Blood test would be conducted every morning to check my platlet level.
Doctor who attended to me said that five people were hospitalised for dengue at that time too. Sounds scary indeed.
Of course, I’m completely recovered now. But still, I bear in mind that, there are four types of dengue virus out there. So, I’m still vulnerable to the remaining 3. Short say, I still have to be extremly alert.
FOOTNOTE: The mainstay of treatment is supportive therapy. The patient is encouraged to keep up oral intake, especially of oral fluids. If the patient is unable to maintain oral intake, supplementation with intravenous fluids may be necessary to prevent dehydration. A platelet transfusion is indicated if the platelet level drops significantly.
E-mail me if anyone is interested why I manage to discharge earlier and made speedy recovery.