HELEMUL ALAM

Mainuddin, 40, a resident of Abdullahpur, was admitted to Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital in critical condition last Monday.

He had been suffering from fever since September 17 but neither consulted a doctor nor underwent a dengue test.

“We took him to a local doctor when his belly became swollen. After diagnosing dengue, the doctor advised us to take him to Mitford Hospital,” said his wife, Lutfa Akter.

She admitted they had not ensured he took enough fluids, which doctors say is crucial in dengue management. “His platelet count was 25,000 when he was admitted, and later dropped to 10,000. By Thursday morning, it had risen to 24,000,” she said.

Akter also said the family had already spent Tk 30,000 on blood transfusions and tests. “He had to receive four bags of blood -- three white cell and one red cell transfusion,” she noted.

Mainuddin, who runs a small business, said he was relieved to see progress. “I hope to fully recover soon so I can repay the loans we had to take from relatives during this illness,” he said.

Another patient, Mohammad Ibrahim, 27, of Bikrampur, has been receiving treatment at Mitford since September 22, though he had been suffering from fever at least three days before admission.

“My platelet count fell to 65,000 at first, then down to 25,000. Now it is 30,000,” said Ibrahim, who is also experiencing liver complications due to dengue.

The case of 13-year-old Tasim Saifee of Laxmibazar was even more severe, as he went eight days without being diagnosed despite having a fever.

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