Shocker: Two-year-old dies of dengue at KIMS in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: “Please do something for the child, please do something for the child,” was what Kokila and Rajesh, the grieving parents of two-year-old Navyashree, were heard saying to the treating doctors at the paediatric ICU of Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences early on Monday morning. 

Sadly, the two-year-old succumbed to dengue at 9.30 am. The child was referred to KIMS from government-run Vanivilas hospital at 6.30 am. “The child was in severe shock when she was brought in and we put her on ventilator and administered IV fluid," said Dr Madhushankar, Administrative Medical Officer (AMO), KIMS. The hospital said that the child died to Dengue Shock Syndrome and was in a terrible shape.

“Navya was unwell for the past two days, the family said. We tried our best to revive her, but suddenly there was internal bleeding and she succumbed,” said Dr Madhushankar. 

The doctors had informed the parents how critical the child was when she was brought into the hospital.  Dr Lokesh, CHO (Public Health), BBMP, said they sent a team for investigation and it is suspected to be a case of dengue death.

“We got it investigated and the baby died of fever and other complications. We did NS1 antigen test through the cord method, which as per the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme guideline can be considered a suspected dengue case. I have sought ELISA test as well." A team will be sent to Bapuji Nagar to inspect the areas around the Navya’s house on Tuesday.

Prevention is the key
Deccan Chronicle reported the death of a 31-year-old techie due to dengue on July 31. A resident of KR Garden Murugeshpalya, the family is yet to come to terms with their daughter's death. 

The Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences is seeing a big increase in the inflow of dengue cases in the past few months. Last month, of the 900 tests done for suspected dengue, 23.7% were tested positive.

“The numbers are increasing. This month of the 500 suspected cases, 40% have been tested positive,” said Administrative Medical Officer Dr Madhushankar of KIMS. The numbers are skyrocketing, but awareness drives and fumigation drive have taken on the low. Despite these large numbers, BBMP continues to maintain that the numbers are low.

According to the BBMP, since January 2012, there have been dengue cases, but no deaths. “We keep conducting investigations, both reactionary investigation (when a death occurs the Palike checks the area around the house) and proactive investigation which is done irrespective of any case. We are also conducting larvae survey, source elimination, spraying and health education,” said Dr Lokesh, CHO, Public Health, BBMP.