An eight-year-old schoolgirl has died of dengue in Chittagong, leaving her family devastated as her expatriate father returned home to find his daughter dead.
Aishi Das, daughter of Kuwait expatriate Liton Das and Lipi Das, died at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital around 6:00 pm on Thursday.
A Class III student at Kattali Ideal School, Aishi was the younger of two daughters. Her elder sister, Ruhi Das, is a Class VII student.
According to family members, Aishi developed a fever of 103°F on Monday. Tests at Chittagong Maa-O-Shishu General Hospital confirmed dengue, and doctors initially advised home treatment. However, her condition deteriorated after she began vomiting.
She was admitted to Royal Hospital in the city's GEC area. After two days, doctors recommended ICU care. Unable to find a vacant ICU bed elsewhere, the family transferred her to Sajinas Hospital in Bayezid, where she died on Thursday evening.
Her father, who booked a flight home after learning of her hospitalisation, learned of her death while aboard the aircraft. Her last rites were performed at North Kattali Sanad Datta Maha Crematorium around 10:30 am yesterday.
According to the civil surgeon's office, Chittagong has recorded 35 official dengue deaths and 6,991 infections so far this year.