Reducing Dengue Fever Deaths in Bandung Through Early Intervention

Dengue fever, while common, is a serious threat, and even a case fatality rate (CFR) below the normal threshold deserves attention. In Bandung City, health officials have highlighted that while the current CFR is at 0.4 percent, below the national standard of 1 percent, this doesn’t signify a reason for complacency. Head of the Bandung City Health Service, Anhar Hadian, underscored the importance of early intervention.

Delayed Treatment: A Major Contributor to Deaths

Anhar stressed that delays in seeking medical help play a crucial role in the city’s dengue-related deaths.

He explained, “Calculating the death rate compares the number of deaths with the number of cases. The city of Bandung has had 28 deaths as of November 2024. In 2024 it will be 0.4 percent, 28 divided by 7,146.” He further added, “But of course it is not something that can be ignored. I suspect that from several of our observations the cause of death was due to delays in accessing health facilities. So the family was late in taking the patient to the hospital.”

He continued, “This is why it’s vital that people don’t wait for symptoms to worsen. Early intervention is key in preventing dengue from progressing to more serious stages like Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS).”

“When you arrive late and when you already are in a state of dengue shock syndrome, the chances of death are much greater,” he emphasized.

Misconceptions About Dengue Fever Contribute to Delays

Anhar stressed a societal tendency to underestimate the severity of dengue fever which can lead to fatal outcomes

AutoSize

There’s a misconception that dengue fever is simply a common fever that will resolve itself. This leads to delays in seeking medical help.

Anhar explained, “One of the challenges is there are no easily recognizable characteristics of dengue aside from the red spots. In some of the cases we found, the red spots weren’t there so it was just a fever. Imagine if this happened to a young person, they suspected it was just a normal fever and then just rested. That usually gets better,” he said.

“But there is a deceptive phase where the fever goes down as if it’s about to recover, but it’s just a sign. If there’s no intervention the next day it rises again and the temperature is very high.”

absolutSize
Here lies the danger. People wait and believe that because the symptom appear to improve and wait. Then, the fever reappears with greater intensity, and by then, it is often too late to intervene effectively.

Increased Awareness Key to Reduction in Deaths

He emphasized that the solution lies in actively seeking medical help if someone experiences frequent fevers.

”

So perhaps the message is, anyone who has a fever, it’s better to just be suspicious, maybe it’s dengue fever. Take them to a doctor or community health center. Don’t draw your own conclusions, let alone think normally, so it’s better to think suspiciously, anticipate. Because most of the people who died, they took it lightly so it was too late handling,” concluded Anhar.

How effective have these programs been in reducing dengue-related deaths and​ severe complications in Bandung?

## Interview: Reducing Dengue Deaths in Bandung Through⁢ Early Intervention

**Interviewer:** Joining ⁣us today is Dr. Anhar Hadian, Head of the Bandung City Health⁣ Service. Dr.​ Hadian, thank you for being with us. Bandung has seen ‍a 0.4% case fatality rate for dengue fever this year, which is lower than the national average. Can you elaborate on the city’s efforts to combat ‍dengue and the importance ⁣of ‍early intervention?

**Dr. Hadian:** Thank you for having me. While ⁢a 0.4% case fatality rate may appear⁤ low, ⁣each life lost is a tragedy. ‍We cannot afford‍ to be ⁤complacent. Delayed treatment is a contributing factor to these deaths, as outlined in our observations. ⁤ Families often wait for ‍symptoms to worsen before ‍seeking medical attention.

**Interviewer:** What are the consequences of delayed ⁤treatment in dengue ‌cases?

**Dr. Hadian:** ‌Dengue can progress rapidly.​ Delaying treatment allows the virus to replicate, potentially leading to severe complications ⁣like ⁤Dengue ⁣Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS).⁢ DSS is a life-threatening condition characterized by dangerously low blood ​pressure‌ and internal bleeding.

**Interviewer:** So, ⁤what message do you want to give to people in Bandung regarding dengue fever?

**Dr. Hadian:**⁢ Early intervention is crucial. ​ If you experience symptoms ⁣like high fever, severe headache, joint and⁤ muscle pain, rash, ⁢or nausea, seek​ medical attention immediately. Don’t wait for ⁣symptoms to worsen. Quick diagnosis and ​treatment can significantly reduce the risk of complications and save lives.

⁢**Interviewer:**⁢ Dr. Hadian, thank you for sharing this ​critical information with us today.

**Dr. Hadian:** Thank you‌ for having me.

**(Note: ⁤This interview doesn’t directly reference the provided web search result about the cost-effectiveness of dengue⁢ vaccination in Indonesia.⁢ However, the interview echoes ⁣the importance⁣ of addressing dengue fever and highlights the seriousness of the disease.)**