BSMMU packed with Chikungunya patients

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University’s (BSMMU) Department of Rheumatology has introduced an arthritis clinic for Chikungunya patients who are suffering from joint and muscle pain as an after effect of the disease. After the clinic was introduced on August 13, the ward has become overcrowded with patients and the doctors of the clinic are being forced to work overtime. Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. This was first described in southern Tanzania in 1952 and recently became an epidemic in Bangladesh. Around 85% of all Chikungunya patients suffer from pain after recovering from fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, fatigue and rashes. An on-duty doctor at the clinic, Sigma Hossain, said: “We have so many patients that sometimes we struggle with space for their data keeping.” At least 10 doctors provide treatment to the patients from Saturday to Thursday in the newly introduced clinic, she said. “We faced less pressure before as many of the patients did not know about the service. But now we have to work overtime almost every day as the patients keep coming even after the regular hours,” she added. Fatema Rahman, 55, Selina Begum, 45, Samia Khatun, 34, and Sharifa Begum Kona, 45, are some of the patients who came to BSMMU on Sunday to receive treatment for their joint pain after contracting Chikungunya. Fatema said: “I suffered from high fever and joint pain after Eid-ul-Fitr. After five days, the fever fell but the pain is still here.” “I was admitted to a private clinic for this pain but I did not feel any better,” she added. A long queue was seen at Room 410 of Building 1 of BSMMU when the clinic was introduced. Selina Begum of West Jurain said she suffered from fever thrice in one week. Each time the fever left her with unbearable suffering that makes it hard for her to carry out her everyday activities. When this reporter entered the room where the arthritis clinic is situated, he noted two teams of doctors providing treatment to the patients. There was barely any space, as too many patients had gathered exceeding the room capacity. Dean of the Department of Medicine at BSMMU Professor Dr ABM Abdullah said: “If an arthritis patient wants medication, he/she must consult a doctor. If the pain is too extreme, the patient should have a cold press. They should drink a lot of water as well.” According to Dr Lelin Chowdhury, a preventive medicine specialist at BSMMU, patients should never decide their treatment by themselves. The wrong treatment may prove to be dangerous for them.  This article was first published on Bangla Tribune