A small, canola-planted, slightly red, swollen area. Two nurses were trying to apply saline through a needle. But Umayir's movements and cries were not affected by saline. Mother tried to explain in various ways, but she could not stop crying. Father Sukkur Ali was watching from a distance.
When all else failed, Baba stepped forward. He picked up the little child who was suffering from dengue for about ten days. Umayr's head was placed on his shoulder and he patted his back slowly. The nurse applied saline when the crying subsided. The crying started again.
Later, father Sukkur Ali took the child off his lap and held the saline packet high in one hand, holding Umayir's hand in the other hand and went out for a walk. Rows of beds on both sides of the ward, a corridor running through it. He walked down the corridor past the nurse's desk almost to the end of the ward, then back to his bed. Although he is now somewhat calm, the expression of tears remains on his face.
Umayir is the 2-year-old child of Shukkur Ali and Saima Haque. Umair is the younger of the couple's two children. About 10 days ago, the fever was normal and they did not pay much attention. He was taking medicine from the pharmacy. But even after two days, the fever did not reduce, they did a dengue test, and he was admitted to the hospital on the advice of the doctor 7 days ago. Since then, bed number 13 of ward number 2 of Dhaka Shishu Hospital has been their address.
Shukkur Ali couple lives in a rented house in Shyamoli. Suffering from the pain of mosquitoes, the thought was to change the house in the next month, but before that, the child was admitted to the hospital with dengue. He said to Barta24.com, I have been in the hospital for 7 days. Now the situation is much better than before. If there is a little improvement, the doctor said that he will give release within one/two days.
Shukkur Ali said, 10 days ago, the body felt a little hot from the evening. High fever comes at night. Then he brought medicine from the pharmacy below. Even so, the fever did not subside, so I brought it here. If dengue is diagnosed later, hospital admission is recommended by the doctor. Now you can see the situation.
According to hospital sources, a total of 189 patients have been admitted to the hospital with dengue until September this year where only 52 people have been admitted from September 1 to 17. The previous year in 2023, the number of dengue patients admitted to the hospital was 2033 where only 485 people were admitted in the month of September.
Asma Begum was admitted two days ago with dengue fever. Her 7-year-old daughter has had a fever for a week today. When the fever did not subside even after taking medicine for three days, the girl was brought to Dhaka Shishu Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital after testing positive for dengue.
Asma Begum told Barta24.com that two days ago I found out that Jannat had dengue. After that, the doctor said to get admitted, now I am admitted and receiving treatment. Fever is now subsiding but platelets have decreased. Today's test is slightly increasing. Now you will have to stay in the hospital for a few more days.
When asked about the number of dengue patients in the hospital this time, a senior nurse of Dhaka Shishu Hospital, who did not wish to be named, told Barta24.com that the number of patients is increasing slightly this month. But still not that much. But we have preparations.
The same picture was also found by visiting different wards of the hospital on the ground. This year, no separate ward has been set as the number of patients is less. Dengue patients are being treated in all the wards. Admission is subject to patient arrival and bed availability.
Masudur Rahman, working as an intern at Dhaka Shishu Hospital, said that the number of dengue patients is low this year, so a separate ward has not been decided yet. But every day we are getting 10-15 patients. I am admitting those who are coming to different wards.
Dhaka Shishu Hospital Deputy Director (Acting) Dr. SM Khalid Mahmud told Barta24.com that the incidence of patients has not increased this year yet. We are getting fewer patients. The number of patients this year is several times less than other years.
He said, we have full preparation with dengue patients. Hope we can provide treatment even if the incidence of patients increases. Renovation work of one of our ward is going on, if the number of dengue patients increases then we will keep that ward dedicated. We are building a media center from where you can get all the information.