Cuban physician Miguel Alejandro Guerra Domínguez has taken to social media to highlight severe shortcomings in the care provided to dengue patients at the Territorial Hospital in Cárdenas, located in the province of Matanzas. He claims that the hospital is failing to conduct the essential tests required for diagnosing and properly monitoring the disease.
“Upon recognizing that I am experiencing symptoms of dengue, as is taught from the third year of medical school, the basic and crucial tests for evaluating and following up on this illness are leukogram, hematocrit, and platelets. These are not optional but mandatory,” the doctor emphasized.
Guerra Domínguez asserted that these critical analyses are not being conducted at the Cárdenas hospital, jeopardizing the lives of patients. “Is dengue not an emergency? Can a thrombocytopenia or hemoconcentration that goes undetected not endanger a patient's life?” he questioned.
He described the situation as a “complete disregard for patient welfare and medical practice,” holding both the hospital administration and the doctors accountable. According to him, they have normalized the absence of these vital tests. “A hospital that refuses to perform the minimum required studies for a potentially fatal disease is simply failing its duty. Most regrettably, all the doctors working there, by accepting and normalizing this situation, become accomplices to this health disaster,” he stated in his complaint.
The dengue virus, spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, has seen a surge in several Cuban provinces amid the ongoing health crisis and the deterioration of hospital services. Early diagnosis and monitoring of parameters such as platelets, hematocrit, and leukogram are crucial to prevent severe complications like hemorrhages or multiple organ failures.
“I am not speaking as just another patient: I am a doctor, and I know what I am talking about. It is outrageous that I was told they could not perform a leukogram, hematocrit, or platelets test on me,” Guerra Domínguez stressed.
The precarious state of hospital services in Cuba and the lack of resources to combat dengue amid an epidemiological crisis threaten to worsen in the coming weeks, as several regions of the country report high transmission rates of dengue and Chikungunya.
Understanding the Dengue Crisis in Cuba
What are the essential tests for diagnosing dengue?
The critical tests for diagnosing and monitoring dengue include leukogram, hematocrit, and platelet count. These tests help track the progression of the disease and prevent severe complications.
Why is early diagnosis of dengue important?
Early diagnosis of dengue is vital to manage the disease effectively and prevent severe outcomes such as hemorrhages or organ failure. Timely tests can guide appropriate medical intervention.
How has the dengue outbreak affected Cuba?
The dengue outbreak in Cuba has exacerbated the existing healthcare crisis, overwhelming hospitals that are already struggling with resource shortages and deteriorating services.