With reports of suspected dengue cases, K-P rests easy on ‘false positives’
Provincial head of programme claims situation is under control
Khyber teaching hospital. PHOTO: FAZAL
PESHAWAR:
Khyber Teaching Hospital suspects the death of a 12-year-old boy late Saturday night was caused by dengue fever. However, a private doctor diagnosed patient with typhoid. Meanwhile the provincial dengue control programme insists no lives have been lost due to the virus.
“The situation is under control and no one has died of dengue virus, however, we have recently registered three patients in Kohat and their status has yet to be confirmed since the blood samples have only just been obtained,” was Dr Khalid’s response, the head of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Dengue Control Programme.
KTH officials, on the other hand, suspected the first death of the season was the child who died Saturday night. The 12-year-old boy, Aimal, was brought to the facility on Saturday in critical condition. Hospital management shifted him into isolation, however, the boy did not survive.
Misdiagnosis
KTH Public Relations Officer Farhad Khan confirmed Aimal, a resident of Tehkal, died at the facility during his diagnosis investigation and treatment. Farhad added the boy was admitted to paediatric isolation ward soon after he was brought to the facility. “We did wait for lab results, however, symptoms suggested dengue fever so precautionary measures were taken from the start,” he said adding at least 20 other patients were currently being provided medical assistance for dengue fever at the facility.
“We have reviewed Aimal’s history and patient profile – it suggests the patient had been prescribed medication for typhoid at a private clinic,” said Dr Muhammad Asif, the coordinator for public health at the district health office. He further added initial urine tests, from Aimal’s previous visit to KTH, did not suggest the deceased was infected with the dengue virus.
“The boy had thus consulted a private clinic on October 29, where he was treated against typhoid and not dengue. Since initial lab tests also did not suggest dengue either, we cannot say the boy died from the virus,” said Asif.
Difference of opinion
A significant number of cases coming through KTH this season have been suspected to be patients with dengue. According to officials, over 120 people were admitted and at least 100 of them were cured and discharged. Around 90% of these patients belonged to the provincial capital with a majority residing in Tehkal, Kohat Road, Ring Road and Hayatabad.
Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) also registered what they consider dengue patients. A total of 79 patients were admitted and 72 were discharged.
The dengue virus surfaced in late September within the northern areas of the province, particularly in districts Swat, Shangla, and Abbottabad and other areas in Hazara Division. District hospitals have reported many cases which they diagnosed to be dengue.
However, the provincial health department expressed satisfaction with the region’s preparedness against dengue.
A health official said, “We assumed the provincial government was prepared not to let dengue surface this year since Rs400 million was allocated to counter dengue, along with malaria and leishmaniasis earlier this year.”
Even with suspected cases in the hundreds, Khalid said the situation was under control and the initial diagnostic ‘strip tests’ normally show false positives due to the presence of antibodies found in patients’ blood.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2015.
Khyber Teaching Hospital suspects the death of a 12-year-old boy late Saturday night was caused by dengue fever. However, a private doctor diagnosed patient with typhoid. Meanwhile the provincial dengue control programme insists no lives have been lost due to the virus.
“The situation is under control and no one has died of dengue virus, however, we have recently registered three patients in Kohat and their status has yet to be confirmed since the blood samples have only just been obtained,” was Dr Khalid’s response, the head of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Dengue Control Programme.
KTH officials, on the other hand, suspected the first death of the season was the child who died Saturday night. The 12-year-old boy, Aimal, was brought to the facility on Saturday in critical condition. Hospital management shifted him into isolation, however, the boy did not survive.
Misdiagnosis
KTH Public Relations Officer Farhad Khan confirmed Aimal, a resident of Tehkal, died at the facility during his diagnosis investigation and treatment. Farhad added the boy was admitted to paediatric isolation ward soon after he was brought to the facility. “We did wait for lab results, however, symptoms suggested dengue fever so precautionary measures were taken from the start,” he said adding at least 20 other patients were currently being provided medical assistance for dengue fever at the facility.
“We have reviewed Aimal’s history and patient profile – it suggests the patient had been prescribed medication for typhoid at a private clinic,” said Dr Muhammad Asif, the coordinator for public health at the district health office. He further added initial urine tests, from Aimal’s previous visit to KTH, did not suggest the deceased was infected with the dengue virus.
“The boy had thus consulted a private clinic on October 29, where he was treated against typhoid and not dengue. Since initial lab tests also did not suggest dengue either, we cannot say the boy died from the virus,” said Asif.
Difference of opinion
A significant number of cases coming through KTH this season have been suspected to be patients with dengue. According to officials, over 120 people were admitted and at least 100 of them were cured and discharged. Around 90% of these patients belonged to the provincial capital with a majority residing in Tehkal, Kohat Road, Ring Road and Hayatabad.
Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) also registered what they consider dengue patients. A total of 79 patients were admitted and 72 were discharged.
The dengue virus surfaced in late September within the northern areas of the province, particularly in districts Swat, Shangla, and Abbottabad and other areas in Hazara Division. District hospitals have reported many cases which they diagnosed to be dengue.
However, the provincial health department expressed satisfaction with the region’s preparedness against dengue.
A health official said, “We assumed the provincial government was prepared not to let dengue surface this year since Rs400 million was allocated to counter dengue, along with malaria and leishmaniasis earlier this year.”
Even with suspected cases in the hundreds, Khalid said the situation was under control and the initial diagnostic ‘strip tests’ normally show false positives due to the presence of antibodies found in patients’ blood.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2015.