Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that is spreading throughout Da Nang. Local health agency is urging authorities at local level to take proactive steps to minimize daily dengue cases even before Da Nang reaches the traditional peak dengue season.

Da Nang is facing a continuous rise in dengue fever cases. IN THE PHOTO: A doctor at the Da Nang Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital examining a child with dengue fever. Photo: P.C

In recent days, the Da Nang Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital has witnessed a continuous rise in the number of child patients with dengue fever.

Dr. Nguyen Thien Nhat Hong from the Da Nang Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital said that this year’s dengue cases among children are higher than in previous years even before the traditional peak dengue season from July to November.

“Many pediatric patients were hospitalised with severe dengue as they entered the critical phase on the 3^rd to 7^th days after the first sign of illness, and they went into shock due to gastrointestinal bleeding. Fortunately, they received timely treatment. ", said Doctor Hong.

There is no medicine to treat dengue. Symptoms of dengue can be mild or severe. Mild symptoms can be treated at home. Patients should rest as much as possible,
drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated (drink water or drinks with added electrolytes), control fever with fever-reducing medications, and seek medical advice, Doctor Hong advised.

Parents are advised to watch for signs and symptoms of severe dengue in their children.Doctor Hong highlighted the need to immediately go to a local clinic or emergency room if you or a family member has any of the following symptoms: belly pain, tenderness, vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours), bleeding from the nose or gums, vomiting blood, or blood in the stool, feeling tired, restless, or irritable.

“It is possible to fully recover from shock after child patients with dengue fever go into shock. But if it isn't treated quickly enough, shock can lead to permanent organ damage, disability, and even death’, she added.

According to the Da Nang Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the city has recorded a total of 1,223 dengue cases since the beginning of 2022, 9.5 times times higher than the same period last year. In particular, 69 cases were logged across the city in just one week from May 2-8. The districts reporting most cases are Thanh Khe (22), Lien Chieu (19), and Cam Le (10). New hotspots or high-risk areas of dengue are concentrated in 4 districts, namely Hai Chau, Ngu Hanh Son and Cam Le.

Doctor Ton That Thanh, the Director of the Da Nang CDC stated that the increasing incidence of dengue in the city has been alarming as this year’s cases are higher than in previous year. He warned that the threat of a possible large-scale outbreak of dengue fever now exists in Da Nang as the city enters its rainy and stormy season that creates ideal conditions for increased mosquito activity.

Da Nang People's Committee Vice Chairwoman Ngo Thi Kim Yen is urging authorities at local level and relevant agencies to promote the health education and raise the awareness among local people in a bid to improve the control of dengue mosquito vector. The focus is on taking necessary measures to ensure effectiveness in the city’s control and management programs of dengue mosquito vector. Heed is paid to conduct increasing the public awareness and promoting the public health along with larval and adult control campaigns. The knowledge on the vector life cycle and its ecology and biology should be delivered to help local people to live in a healthy conditions and destruction of vectors breeding sites. Health education strategies should educate the people to break the mosquito life cycle by destroying the possible mosquito breeding sites such as concrete pools, water tanks, utensils, aquaria, irrigation ditches and drainages as well as disposable tires and wastes.

Special attention should be given to identifying high-risk areas of dengue in order to enable appropriate measures to be taken to control the dengue disease and reduce dengue infections

Repporting by PHAN CHUNG – translating by H.L