A friend of ours here in Santiago has been diagnosed with Dengue Fever. It has been caught, apparently, in time, so it has not developed into the hemmorhagic kind. However, he has now spent his first night in the hospital, and they say he'll need to stay until they see an improvement in his platelet count, which has been at the 120 level ("normal" is apparently more than 450).
We are going to see him later today and to try to talk to doctors. His family is upset because doctors have not been available to talk with them. He is at the Union Medica on JP Duarte. We speak very poor Spanish (though we are learning), but he and his family are all native speakers. They are Dominicans who have lived in the US for many years and have only recently returned, so their understanding of present-day practicalities seems to be almost as minimal as ours. We are concerned that the doctors have given them so little attention, and we are going to try to help.
They also said that he has been given a LOT of antibiotics, which seems really stupid. As far as I understand, dengue is viral, and there's no reason to give antibiotics. I thought it was only in the US that doctors had this foolish practice of administering antibiotics when not needed, just to give the impression of doing something.
Right now I'm trying to research what SHOULD be done. I would appreciate any guidance on this topic, especially w/r/t what kinds of diet can help increase platelet count. Also, if anyone can advise about the competence of Union Medica, and/or any doctors there or elsewhere, it would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks in advance. We are really worried. I have seen people die in hospitals.
Noel
We are going to see him later today and to try to talk to doctors. His family is upset because doctors have not been available to talk with them. He is at the Union Medica on JP Duarte. We speak very poor Spanish (though we are learning), but he and his family are all native speakers. They are Dominicans who have lived in the US for many years and have only recently returned, so their understanding of present-day practicalities seems to be almost as minimal as ours. We are concerned that the doctors have given them so little attention, and we are going to try to help.
They also said that he has been given a LOT of antibiotics, which seems really stupid. As far as I understand, dengue is viral, and there's no reason to give antibiotics. I thought it was only in the US that doctors had this foolish practice of administering antibiotics when not needed, just to give the impression of doing something.
Right now I'm trying to research what SHOULD be done. I would appreciate any guidance on this topic, especially w/r/t what kinds of diet can help increase platelet count. Also, if anyone can advise about the competence of Union Medica, and/or any doctors there or elsewhere, it would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks in advance. We are really worried. I have seen people die in hospitals.
Noel