Developing guidelines for the clinical management of Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

On 6 September 2016 the vector-borne diseases (VBD) team of WHO Myanmar convened a technical workshop to develop the National Clinical Management Guidelines for Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), in support of Myanmar health authorities and with the collaboration of experts and academics from the Universities of Medicines of the country. Dengue and DHF is a vector borne disease prevalent in Myanmar which can have serious health consequences; the disease is transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes.

In the context of dengue diagnosis and treatment in Myanmar, guidelines and technical procedures need to be developed, adapted and updated frequently to ensure that the most up-to-date and effective strategies are put in place for disease management and control, based on the global and regional standards.

The technical workshop was attended by former Union Health Minister Professor Pe Thet Khin, Professors and Heads of Paediatric and Medicine Department from University of Medicine 1 and 2 of Yangon, University of Medicine of Mandalay and Magway and by Defense Services Medical Academy and other officials from the National Dengue Prevention and Control Program. Staff from WHO Country Office for Myanmar facilitated the workshop and coordinated technical inputs and discussions.

Developing uniform Dengue clinical management guidelines which must be applicable throughout the country is a central step for the management of the disease, remarked Prof. Pe Thet Khin. After a situation update on dengue in Myanmar presented by Dr. Than Naing Soe, Assistant Director from the Vector Borne Disease Control Programme of the Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS), Dr. San San Win, focal point for Neglected Tropical Disease of WHO Myanmar, presented the draft guidelines developed with the support of the Department of Communicable Diseases of WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia and WHO Myanmar.

Professors from the Universities of Medicine 1 and 2 illustrated the current clinical guidelines for treatment of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever in adults and in children, which were then further discussed during the workshop in order to be aligned with WHO guidelines and refined accordingly. Participants agreed on the need to standardize clinical treatment and management of these conditions across health facilities and medical practitioners in Myanmar, and thus recommended the further development of the suggested draft guidelines.

During the workshop Dr Kyaw Zin Wai, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Medicine 2, and Dr Moe Moe San, Professor and Head of Tropical Medicine, University of Medicine 1, were identified as focal points to coordinate with the Paediatric and Physicians Societies respectively and communicate the developments and suggested amendments to the draft guidelines to the National Programme of MoHS and with WHO. WHO will continue to support the Programme in the finalization and implementation of these guidelines, and wishes to congratulate all participants and institutions for their proven commitment and efforts against this disease.