10-month-old dies, dengue’s grip over infants a big worry

PUNE: A baby succumbed to

dengue

shock syndrome at a hospital in the city on July 30.

The 10-month-old boy from Ghorpadi had episodes of fever, loose motions and vomiting over three days after admission to a private hospital on July 27.

This is the second dengue death, so far this year. A 58-year-old woman had died of

dengue fever

induced complications at Sahyadri Hospital on June 11.

The spurt in dengue cases this year has not spared even the infants. Doctors said they are coming across many infants less than a year old who test positive for dengue.

Last week, paediatricians were baffled after a month-old-baby whose blood platelet count dropped very low (14,000) tested positive for dengue. The baby recovered and was discharged.

“The 10-month-old baby tested positive for dengue antigen test (NS1) indicating a fresh infection. It was a severe form. The baby died of progressively worsening dengue shock syndrome,” a doctor from Inamdar Hospital in Wanowrie.

The baby’s parents had initially consulted a neighbourhood doctor after he developed fever and loose motions. The baby’s blood test was positive for dengue antigen test and he was referred to Inamdar Hospital where he was admitted on July 27.

“The baby continued to have fever spikes despite symptomatic treatment and close monitoring of intravenous fluids and hydration. On July 30, the baby developed abnormally rapid breathing and abdominal distension following which we immediately shifted him to a paediatric intensive care unit,” the doctor said. When the baby’s condition worsened. he was put on ventilator support, but he died on July 30.


Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, Location Guesser and Mini Crossword.