Dengue Fever: A Growing Concern in Children

A 13-year-old boy, N.N.T, from district 7, has been under treatment at the Infectious Disease Department for a week, still showing signs of dengue shock with noticeable bruises on his arms.

His mother recounted that she was informed by his teacher about his fever, leading to a visit to a private hospital where he was initially treated for a sore throat. Unfortunately, his symptoms did not improve, and he subsequently developed a high fever and diarrhea, prompting a visit to the district hospital. He was later transferred to Children’s Hospital No 2, where he was diagnosed with dengue shock.

In another case, a 4-year-old girl named N.V was admitted to the same hospital on the fourth day of her dengue symptoms. Despite receiving treatment for pharyngitis at a private facility, her condition worsened with extreme fatigue and vomiting, necessitating urgent care. Upon arrival, she was admitted for dengue shock, experiencing issues such as fluid accumulation and breathing difficulties, requiring CPAP assistance.

Dr. Tran Ngoc Luu commented that there has been a 50% rise in dengue cases over the last two weeks, with his department currently overseeing 15-20 inpatient cases. There is also a troubling increase in severe cases, with many requiring blood transfusions; in just one week, the hospital managed four dengue shock incidents.

Children’s Hospital No 1 is also experiencing a spike, with 30 children currently hospitalized for dengue. Last month, they admitted 130 infected children, eight of whom suffered complications needing advanced treatment, including cases of respiratory failure and severe liver damage leading to intubation and ventilation.

Dr. Nguyen Minh Tuan from Children’s Hospital No 1 warns that dengue fever can be life-threatening, and there’s no specific treatment available. Symptoms often overlap with other ailments such as throat infections or viral diseases, leading to misdiagnosis.

The HCMC Health Department noted that during the 39th week of the year, 370 dengue cases were reported, marking a 19.8% increase compared to the previous four-week average. The cumulative total has reached 7,739 cases to date.