7-year-old girl dies of severe dengue shock syndrome in Bengaluru

In a tragic case, a seven-year-old girl from West Bengal died in Bengaluru on December 3 after falling critically ill with ‘severe dengue shock syndrome’, a life-threatening complication of dengue, after her family struggled to access timely medical care.

The child’s parents, migrant workers from Nadia district, moved to Bengaluru two months ago and were living in a shanty in Varthur.

According to the Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre’s death summary report, Jannatun Khatun was admitted to the paediatric ICU in a critical condition after five days of fever. The hospital report noted that she was conscious but extremely irritable, with very weak peripheral pulses and low blood pressure, indicating severe dengue shock with multi-organ dysfunction.

Blood tests confirmed low platelet counts and clinical assessments suggested poor cardiac contractility, leading to the use of intravenous fluids and inotropic support.

The report further stated that due to her unstable condition, collecting samples and initiating treatment was extremely challenging. Despite intensive care, including central line insertion and dual inotropic support, the child’s condition did not improve, and she could not be revived.

When the girl’s condition worsened, the family first approached a private hospital, where they were given an estimated treatment cost of ₹45,000, far beyond their means. They then attempted to seek care at government hospitals, but were reportedly told that no beds were available. By the time she was eventually admitted to a private facility, she had progressed to dengue shock, with doctors noting that she was extremely irritable, making it difficult to collect samples and initiate treatment.

Greater Bengaluru Authority Special Commissioner (Health and Education) Suralkar Vikas Kishor said that disease confirmation requires an audit, which can take time. When asked whether the hospital had notified the case, he said, “If it has not been notified, I will ask the hospital to notify it.” Dengue is a notifiable disease.

After her death, the family struggled to arrange transport to take her body back to West Bengal, where the rest of their relatives live. They eventually collected funds, nearly ₹60,000 from other members of the migrant community, to manage the transport.

Members of the migrant community approached R. Kaleem Ullah, national president of the All-India Shramik Swaraj Kendra, for help with ambulances and logistical support, saying they had been unable to access these services on their own. 

Mr. Ullah said the incident highlights the larger challenges faced by migrant families in Bengaluru. “Many live in temporary shelters and cannot access quick medical care during emergencies due to overcrowding in government hospitals and high costs in private facilities,” he said, requesting the government to consider solutions such as a health card that could cover essential medical treatment and provide partial ration support to ensure that families in vulnerable situations can access care promptly.