Hospitalized for chikungunya at the Hospital de Clínicas. Photo: UNA Press.
The severity in which chikungunya cases occur surprises international health organizations. In this sense, next week a team of experts will come to the country to study and analyze the characteristics and mutation of the virus.
Dr. Roque Silva, advisor for Health Services and Networks of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, explained that the chikungunya epidemic – that currently affects the country – not only surprised health authorities but also international health organizations. This, because up to now it cannot be determined the gravity which in many cases lead to the patient death.
Related Topic: The son of the mayor of San Bernardino dies of chikungunya
“PAHO specialists cannot explain the seriousness of the cases in the country and, in view of the scenario, next week is scheduled the arrival of a team of experts from abroad which will be in charge of analyzing the characteristics and mutation of the virus”, mentioned Dr. Silva in dialogue with 1000 AM.
In this regard, the advisor recalled that the Ministry of Health closed last week with 33 confirmed deaths due to chikungunyahowever there is Approximately 80 deaths that are still under study.
Given the context, Dr. Silva also mentioned the case of the 19-year-old, son of the mayor of San Bernardinowho lost his life after complications caused by the virus at the Itauguá National Hospital.
“The report that we have from Cordillera is that the boy had 12 days with chikungunya and he had not had any consultation, he arrived super dehydrated to the Caacupé Hospital, in hours he was transferred to the National Hospital and well, he had a whole series of complications that unfortunately one does not expect, ”he explained.
Read on TODAY: Chikungunya in young children: what should be noticed?
He also reported that the 30% of chikungunya cases are asymptomaticnoting that some people may experience certain discomforts such as slight pain in the back or jointswithout even knowing that they were carriers of the virus.
In this regard, he stressed that early consultation, avoid self-medication and hydration They are essential to avoid adversities caused by the disease. “Nothing replaces medical consultationIt’s not because I have a fever that I take paracetamol, I don’t take ibuprofen because my body aches. It should be consulted ”, she pointed out.
It may interest you: Large number of patients with atypical manifestations of chikungunya in Clinics
Lastly, he noted that there is currently a record of 600 suspected cases of chikungunya, of which 160 are confirmed. So he also said that 20 patients are admitted to intensive care and 10 of them are children under 1 year of age.
