Santo Domingo, RD

After the violent boom of dengue fever in Dominican territory, with more than 12,000 reports since its beginning and 11 human losses so far this year, private laboratories, such as “Referencia”, have had a high demand of patients who come to these centers for laboratory tests to determine whether or not they have the viral disease.

LISTÍN DIARIO, during a tour made yesterday, verified the increase of this type of test when visiting two branches of ‘Referencia Laboratorio Clínico,’ one located on Francia Avenue, on the corner of Rosa Duarte Street and the other on Ortega y Gasset Avenue.

A customer service staff of the latter branch told this newspaper that the test to detect dengue is called NS1, while the one for antibodies consists of other types of tests called “Dengue IgG and InG.”

“There is an increase in dengue testing,” the employee stated while explaining, “Doctors monitor the disease with the hemogram, which measures the level of platelets.”

These clinical analyses are usually completed within a maximum period of 24 hours, according to the person consulted.

At the branch on Francia Avenue, the customer service staff also assured the increase of these laboratory tests: “Yes, there has been an increase,” they indicated.

WHAT DO THESE TESTS WORK FOR?
This newspaper consulted a specialist on the subject, who explained that after questioning a patient with suspected dengue, they are sent for laboratory or complementary tests, such as hemogram or abdominal tomography, since, based on the results, the patient may or may not be diagnosed with the disease.

“In the hemogram we see white blood cells and platelets. The hemogram describes other things, but for dengue cases that is the most important thing,” said the physician, who preferred anonymity.

Regarding the CT scan, he said, “It is to see internal organs, but especially the liver, because dengue affects the liver.”

The expert also referred to the IgM test since it can indicate whether the patient has dengue or not.

“In case it is positive, it indicates the phase in which the patient is. But, it is not recommended to do it on the first day of symptoms, because nothing comes out, only the hemogram,” he explained.

HOSPITAL LABORATORIES
The high demand for tests on this disease, which is transmitted by mosquito bites of the Aedes aegypti species, has been similar in some hospital laboratories in the capital.

For example, the Hospital Materno Infantil Santo Socorro has registered “a packet” of laboratory tests, as stated to this newspaper by a medical staff member in the Sample Collection department.

Meanwhile, at the Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital, the situation has been similar after the high attendance of suspicious patients. Estefania Cruz admitted her four-year-old niece to the emergency area of this health center for presenting symptoms of dengue fever since last Wednesday 18.

The campaign will cover the entire territory, but priority will be given to the capital, Santo Domingo, as well as to the provinces of Santiago, Puerto Plata, Monseñor Nouel, La Romana, Barahona, San Cristóbal, Montecristi and San Pedro de Macorís, which concentrate the most significant number of contagions, as explained at a press conference by the officials who make up the recently created Cabinet of Action Against Dengue.

The participants in this operation are part of the institutions that make up the Emergency Operations Center (COE), whose director, General Juan Manuel Méndez, called on the population to support the work “to fumigate and eliminate mosquito breeding sites in tanks, tires and other containers which can accumulate clean water so that together we can frequently eliminate the breeding sites” of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, transmitter of dengue and other diseases such as chikungunya and zika.

For his part, the Minister of Public Health, Daniel Rivera, guaranteed that the country has “all the supplies, medicines and a solid national response capacity to control this endemic disease” amidst criticism from the political opposition for the alleged lack of action to control the outbreak.

Along the same lines, the director of the National Health Service, Mario Lama, stated the reinforcement of “human resources, medicines and tests” to diagnose the disease in hospitals, many of which have been overwhelmed in recent months by the number of people affected.

Public Health maintained the epidemiological alert on 24 May for dengue, an acute viral disease characterized by high fever, intense headache, muscle pain, gastrointestinal disorders, and rashes.

Santo Domingo.- The Rosa Emilia Sánchez Pérez de Tavares National Cancer Institute (INCART) in the Dominican Republic has partnered with pharmaceutical company Roche to introduce innovative diagnostic technology for conducting immunohistochemical tests locally. This advancement aims to expedite diagnostic results, particularly for breast cancer, leading to more timely treatment for patients.

Previously, certain diagnostic studies had to be sent abroad, causing delays in diagnosis and treatment. With this new technology at INCART, patients will receive faster diagnoses, which can significantly benefit treatment outcomes and the search for a cure.

Breast cancer diagnosis typically involves multiple stages, and reducing the time it takes to obtain results is crucial for patients’ well-being. In the Dominican Republic, many breast cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, making early detection and timely treatment critical.

This partnership between INCART and Roche allows for the local execution of diagnostic tests, eliminating the need to send samples abroad. It also helps save valuable time in the breast cancer detection and diagnosis process.

The Dominican Republic faces a high rate of advanced-stage breast cancer diagnoses. Improving the timeliness of diagnoses is crucial for enhancing treatment outcomes and the country’s healthcare system’s sustainability. Early diagnosis significantly increases the chances of curing breast cancer.

INCART’s goal with the implementation of this diagnostic technology is to offer a comprehensive cancer diagnosis in less than ten days, emphasizing the importance of quick, precise, and complete diagnoses that facilitate swift access to treatment for patients.

Breast cancer is a significant health challenge in the Dominican Republic. In 2020, there were 3,412 new cases diagnosed, resulting in 1,577 deaths from the disease. By 2040, it is estimated that the number of cases will surpass 5,000.

To address this challenge, the country has established the Breast, Cervical, and Prostate Cancer Detection Program, focusing on prevention and early detection in vulnerable communities. Strengthening primary care and early detection efforts is essential for achieving better outcomes in breast cancer treatment.

The partnership between INCART and Roche aligns with the Global Initiative for Breast Cancer’s three pillars promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO): health promotion, timely diagnosis, and multimodal treatment without interruption. These pillars are crucial for improving breast cancer outcomes, especially in the early stages of the disease. INCART aims to make science and technology accessible to all in pursuit of these objectives.

Santo Domingo.- Multiple hospitals in the capital city of the Dominican Republic have reported suspected cases of dengue fever, a disease that has caused 11 deaths in the country this week. Hospitals including Marcelino Vélez Santana, Materno Infantil San Lorenzo de Los Mina, and Hugo Mendoza have been instructed by the Ministry of Public Health not to provide official statistics on suspected dengue cases. The Dominican authorities and the population have expressed concerns about the recent surge in dengue cases, leading President Luis Abinader to establish the ‘Action Cabinet Against Dengue’ to address the issue.

Emergency rooms at several hospitals have seen an influx of patients with dengue-like symptoms, including high fever, headaches, and stomach pain. The Vinicio Calventi medical center has reported approximately 285 suspected dengue cases so far this year, with a significant number of patients showing “alarm signs.” There has been a notable increase in daily admissions of suspected dengue cases, leading to overcrowding in some hospitals.

Health authorities have encouraged communities living near streams or ravines to treat their water supplies with chlorine as a preventive measure. They have also urged families not to delay seeking medical attention for children displaying dengue symptoms to ensure timely treatment.

Dengue fever is transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito and can lead to severe illness or even death in some cases. The surge in dengue cases highlights the ongoing challenges related to mosquito-borne diseases in the region and the need for effective public health interventions.

A mammogram is a radiographic image of the breast. Regular mammograms have the ability to detect breast cancer in its early stages, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt.

When you go for your mammogram, initially, you’ll position yourself in front of an X-ray machine, where a radiologist will place one of your breasts on a plastic plate. Another plate will then gently compress your breast from above, keeping it steady while the X-ray is taken.

You may experience some pressure. Subsequently, the same procedure will be carried out for the other breast. Finally, you’ll wait while the radiologist reviews the X-rays to ensure that they don’t need to be retaken before you receive your results.

It is important to note that each woman’s mammogram may look a little different due to the unique characteristics of each individual’s breast. Contact Diagnostic Radiology at 432-7099 or office@diagnosticbarbados.com to book your appointment.

The post What to Expect: Your First Mammogram appeared first on Barbados Today.

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Government has announced a series of measures to combat the dengue outbreak, which has already resulted in eleven confirmed deaths and is overwhelming both public and private healthcare centers.

The first measure involves the creation of the Dengue Action Cabinet, a collaborative effort between various ministries and directorates, working alongside the Ministry of Health to intensify efforts against the virus.

To control the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, responsible for dengue transmission, house-to-house fumigation operations will be expanded in high-risk areas.

The government will also strengthen cleaning campaigns in communities and public spaces to eliminate breeding sites for the disease-carrying mosquitoes.

In addition to increasing the capacity and effectiveness of the emergency medical care system to provide timely treatment to dengue patients, hospitals will receive necessary resources and facilitate access to laboratory tests for faster and more accurate diagnoses.

Public awareness and education campaigns on dengue prevention will be reinforced, along with daily press conferences to keep the population informed of the situation and actions taken.

General Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), will coordinate support initiatives for all operations conducted by the Dengue Action Cabinet.

Suspected dengue cases continue to rise in the Dominican Republic, with a total of 12,991 reported cases since the beginning of the year. Two new deaths bring the total to eleven, with a fatality rate of 0.08%. Delays in seeking medical care remain a concern.

The Minister of Public Health emphasized data transparency and urged against politicizing the issue, emphasizing the ongoing investigations into potential dengue-related deaths.

Healthcare centers are grappling with the outbreak, with cases reported in various facilities, including the Hugo Mendoza and Robert Reid Cabral hospitals, as well as private clinics. The government’s measures aim to address the situation and reduce dengue’s spread.

“The most common signs of dehydration are thirst, a dry mouth, or a headache, indicating that the body needs replenishment”

View the full post Why is dehydration dangerous? on NOW Grenada.

A medical practitioner says the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) needs to hire additional anesthesiologists to meet the demands that can only be executed by physicians trained in that speciality area.

Speaking to members of the media at a World Anaesthesia Day Symposium in the QEH Auditorium on Monday, consultant anesthesiologist Dr Keisha Thomas-Gibson said more anesthesiologists were required to decrease the heavy workload in the Anaesthesia Department, as she noted that the duties of anesthesiologists go way beyond administering medication to put a patient to sleep before surgery and being there to wake them following the procedure.

Dr Thomas-Gibson, who is the Anesthesia Intensive Care programme coordinator for the University of the West Indies (UWI) undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, said because the anesthesiologist’s role stretches outside the operating theatre, more human resources are necessary to service all the other areas.

“Ninety-nine per cent of patients do not know that the anesthesiologist is with them throughout the surgery. They think that we give an injection and sometimes return to wake you up, or you wake up on your own, and that is absolutely not the case. We are the intraoperative, the surgeon cuts, and we do everything else. 

“So it is a situation where, of course, we need human resources, we need persons, we need staff to be able to execute all of the different roles that we have and the speciality of anaesthesia. Because we are finding ourselves in so many other parts of the hospital, we need staff to be able to service all those areas that we are required to service,” she said.

Adding that an extensive list of highly specialised surgeries is performed in Barbados, Dr Thomas-Gibson said that, at times, anesthesiologists have to push other cases aside to be able to provide the service to that speciality case.

“So the backlogs can’t be addressed by us alone. We are here every single day, and we only do what is presented up until a particular time within here and obvious limitations,” she said.

During her presentation, Dr Thomas-Gibson stressed that the safety record at the hospital is “exceptional”.

She commended the partnership between UWI and the QEH, where doctors are receiving specialised training to become anesthesiologists. (AH)

The post More anesthesiologists needed at QEH appeared first on Barbados Today.

Guyana is training more nurses, providing advanced training to doctors, buying higher quality equipment and encouraging surgeons from across the Caribbean to come here to share their expertise as part of a wider plan to gear up the country to become a medical “hub” for the rest of the region, according to Health Minister Dr ...

Perez Duran asked President Abinader to pay attention to the growing 0epidemic, about which he indicated the figures do not correspond to reality, so he asked to declare a state of emergency in the country due to increased cases.

“I am making a call to you, Mr. President (…), I understand that within 24 hours you should decree a state of emergency, where a campaign of fumigation, orientation, protocolization of the dengue fever that we have in front of us,” said the doctor.

The doctor’s daughter died on Friday last week after remaining in intensive care and being diagnosed with the disease transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito after being hospitalized since Wednesday morning.

He explained that the teenager arrived at the hospital “in a critical condition,” so she was immediately referred to the Intensive Care Unit.

“We as parents spared neither resources nor efforts to facilitate everything that was asked of us,” said the grieving father in an interview with Martina Espinal on the program Al Punto.

He indicated that, at first, they thought it was a classic dengue, but after she was intubated early Thursday morning, the infant became brain-dead at 5:00 p.m., indicating to her parents that it was too late.

The girl’s father said that the child’s platelets, which were at 266, reached 11 in just three days.

With a troubled expression, Perez narrated that they took the girl to receive medical attention since the first symptoms appeared on Sunday of that week. However, the pre-adolescent died days later.

“On Friday morning an attempt was made to connect her to a special dialysis machine, when the caveat was made that the girl was clinically dead, it was literally exploding her lungs, heart and kidneys. When she was connected to the machine, the girl died after two minutes, she went into irreversible arrest,” he said.