: For the past two decades, Bangladesh has faced recurrent dengue outbreaks, with the most recent occurring in 2023. We investigated the socioeconomic, clinical, and laboratory aspects of patients diagnosed with dengue during this outbreak. This observational study was conducted from July to September 2023 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Chittagong Medical College Hospital, and included 450 confirmed cases of dengue. Sociodemographic information was collected via face-to-face interviews, clinical examinations, and laboratory testing, which was done within 24 hours of admission. Dengue severity was classified according to the 2009 WHO dengue guidelines. Notably, 17% of patients experienced severe dengue, and 89% of those with nonsevere cases exhibited at least one warning sign. Most patients were young adults (mean age, 33 years), with a nearly equal male-to-female ratio. Common clinical presentations included fever (95%), myalgia (62%), and headache (58%), whereas warning signs such as vomiting (54%) and abdominal pain (39%) were prevalent. Plasma leakage indicators, including ascites, pleural effusion, and edema, were found predominantly in severe cases. Laboratory findings revealed leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated hepatic enzymes (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) in nearly half the patients. An elevated hematocrit level was associated with severe dengue. We report that a substantial number of patients developed severe dengue during the epidemic in 2023, and provide detailed clinical–epidemiological profiles of the patients, offering valuable insight into management of dengue cases.

This study examines the trends, impacts, and challenges of HIV in Bangladesh from 2000 to 2024, with a focus on its epidemiology, demographic distribution, and socioeconomic determinants. Despite maintaining one of the lowest HIV prevalence rates globally (<0.1%), Bangladesh faces a concentrated epidemic among high-risk populations, including people who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, transgender individuals, and migrant workers. Analysis reveals a steady increase in reported infections, attributed to enhanced diagnostic capacities and public awareness. The 25–49 year age group remains the most affected, accounting for over 65% of cases, underscoring the vulnerability of the economically active population. Gender disparities persist, with males representing the majority of infections but lower ART coverage among females and transgender individuals. While interventions such as PMTCT programs, ART expansion, and targeted awareness campaigns have contributed to improved outcomes, barriers such as stigma, healthcare inequities, and limited rural access hinder progress. The study also evaluates Bangladesh’s progress toward the 95-95-95 targets, highlighting significant strides in treatment and viral suppression but gaps in diagnosis. Future research must address behavioral trends, stigma reduction, and integration of HIV services for marginalized populations. This paper emphasizes the need for evidence-based strategies to ensure equitable healthcare delivery and sustainable progress in combating HIV.

Background: Poisoning cases are still neglected in our society. Recent studies have revealed the increasing trend of poisoning and snake bite patients, which may be a big challenge shortly. This study was carried out to observe the epidemiological profile of acute poisoning and snake bite in northeastern Bangladesh and to evaluate the risk factors, patterns and mortality. Methods: Data was collected from the emergency admission registrar of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital with a history of poisoning or snake bite from 1st January 2022 to 30th September 2022. Then indoor ward registers were used to see the outcomes. Results: 774 patients were admitted in the last nine months. Among them, 707 were poisoning cases (406 males and 301 females), and 67(48 males and 19 females) were snake bites. We found 201 (28%) patients with unknown poisoning, and 167 (24%) were OPC poisoning. Other poisoning types were drug overdose (sedative, paracetamol, antipsychotic, anti-depressant and anti-hypertensive) and corrosive poisoning (Herpic, Dettol, Savlon, Detergent, Soap, Household Cleaning Materials, and paraquat). Though less frequent (11 cases), parquet poisoning was the most fatal. Regarding, Snakebite, 16 (24%) were venomous, and 44 (66%) were non-venomous. At last, we observed 45 deaths (Poisoning 40 and Snakebite 5). Conclusion: Both poisoning and snake bite cases are important in the clinical context of every tertiary care hospital like ours. To reduce this burden, we should focus on the risk factors. At the same time, proper treatment guideline is necessary even in the rural setup to ensure initial life-saving care. Bangladesh J Medicine 2023; 34(2): 133-136

Background: ABO Blood Group discrepancy means the difference between forward and reverse grouping due to an unexpected extra reaction or a missing reaction. This is one of the major reasons for a transfusion reaction. The aim of this study was to analyze ABO blood group discrepancies in an algorithmic manner and find out the risk factors among the recipients. Methods: This crosssectional observational study was carried out among 200 patients in the Department of Transfusion Medicine, BSMMU, Dhaka, for a period of 6 months. Both forward and reverse blood grouping were done among the recipients’ sample and risk factors related to ABO grouping discrepancies was evaluated. Results: Presence of ABO discrepancies were found in 5.5% blood recipients (n=11). Among them the major risk factors were transfusion dependent thalassemia (TDT), mismatched transfusion, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and multiple myeloma (2 patients in each category, 1% each). Furthermore, 83.0% recipients were having blood transfusion d”5 times. Conclusion: Despite all precautions ABO discrepancies still exist in transfusion sectors. Conditions where chance of ABO discrepancy is high needs extra precautions before ABO grouping to ensure safe blood transfusion. Bangladesh J Medicine 2025; 36: 43-49

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation and progressive damage. Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a condition marked by widespread pain and fatigue, frequently coexists with RA, complicating disease assessment and management. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of fibromyalgia on disease activity in RA patients, focusing on the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI). Methods: A total of 50 RA patients diagnosed according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I (RA with fibromyalgia) and Group II (RA without fibromyalgia). Socio-demographic, clinical, and disease activity data were collected. Disease activity was assessed using DAS28 and CDAI, while inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP) and serological tests (RF, anti-CCP) were also measured. Results: The mean age of participants was 48.04 ± 13.78 years. Fibromyalgia was present in 24% of RA patients. No significant differences were observed in inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP) or serological tests (RF, anti-CCP) between the two groups. However, disease activity indices were significantly higher in patients with fibromyalgia. All patients in Group I had high DAS28 scores (>5.1), with a mean of 7.22 ± 0.81, compared to 65.8% in Group II (mean DAS28 5.77 ± 1.32). CDAI scores were also significantly higher in Group I (43.5 ± 6.14) compared to Group II (25.79 ± 15.67). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the presence of fibromyalgia significantly increases disease activity in RA patients, as reflected by higher DAS28 and CDAI scores. These results highlight the importance of considering fibromyalgia when assessing disease activity in RA, as it may lead to an overestimation of disease severity and impact treatment decisions.

The initial emergence of COVID-19 was observed in China on November 17, 2019, marking the likely starting point of the outbreak. It is estimated that a minimum of 266 individuals were infected with COVID-19 in China during 2019. Subsequently, the virus gradually disseminated across the globe. As of now, the global count of COVID-19 infections stands at 704,753,890, with a total of 7,010,681 fatalities. This pandemic has not only posed a threat to public healthcare but has also resulted in psychological complications. This article focuses on the approaches taken by the government of Bangladesh to address such mental health issues.