Spike of dengue cases leads to high demand for blood transfusion

Mahima Devkota / Kathmandu, Sept. 13: After contracting severe dengue, Madhav Prasad Sharma of Sainbu-2, Bhaisepati in Lalitpur district, was bothered about the management of blood if needed for him. Having a young child and an old mother at home, he knew it will be difficult for him to manage the blood.

Similarly, Shyam Raj Adhikari, an octogenarian from Baneshwor in Kathmandu, was showing severe symptoms of dengue. Being elderly and in need of B positive blood group, which s rare, his family was worried if the donated blood of family members will be sufficient for the octogenarian.

Blood for both patients was managed by the blood donation of family members. However, it is not the case for many patients who need blood.

According to Dr. Rabindra Pandey, a public health expert, dengue fever can result in a drop in white blood cells and platelet counts to 20,000-30,000 which in normal times ranges from 1,50,0000 to 2,50,0000. The patient is kept under observation if the white blood cells and platelet counts blood count drops to 50,000 and can need an immediate blood transfusion.

He said that if the severe cases of dengue will rise, then the number of blood transfusions will rise further, which can lead to blood scarcity if the supply is not increased.

The Central Blood Transfusion Service Center said that patients seek 150-200 pints of platelets- rich plasma and platelet-concentrated blood a day.

Dibya Raj Poudel, Director of the Central Blood Transfusion Service Center run by the Nepal Red Cross Society said that there has been a high demand for plasma and platelets following the surge in dengue cases in Nepal.

Director Poudel said, “The demand for blood has surged in the last one and a half months following the spike in the dengue cases. Normally, there is a demand of around 400 pints of blood for the Kathmandu Valley, which has now risen to the demand of 700 pints a day.”

The demand for blood has risen, but the supply is the same as there are a fixed number of blood donors in the country. When the donors themselves get infected with dengue, then the situation will worsen for the dengue patients cannot donate blood at least for three months.

He said, “Currently, 90 per cent of the donated blood is being utilized and if the number of donors decreases and the demand increases then we will face an acute blood scarcity.”

Nawaraj Gautam, information officer of the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, said that the hospital has its own blood bank and the patients are themselves managing blood. However, if this situation continues then blood scarcity will be unavoidable.

Currently, there is a total of 40 cases admitted to the hospital, of which, four patients are in critical condition.

As per the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD), five deaths from dengue have been recorded so far.

Dr. Prajawol Shrestha, Deputy Director at the Bir Hospital said that as the number of dengue patients is increasing, the need for platelets transfusion has risen, which in turn, has resulted in difficulty in managing platelet for dengue patients.

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), has urged denizens to donate blood.