DengueDrops is a web-based calculator for the calculation of the required fluid amounts and IV flow rates for non-shock
(group-B) dengue patients. Biomedical Engineers from BUET and a team of physicians have developed this tool. The app
takes inputs about the patient (age, height, gender, weight, BP, capillary refill time) and calculates the required IV
fluid in drops per minute for patients of every age group based on the cannula type used (adult/pediatric). It provides
maintenance and deficit fluid levels and suggests total amounts of fluid that should be administered intravenously and
orally.
The recent dengue outbreak in Bangladesh has been a grave concern for public health officials. As of 20 November 2022,
52,807 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases and 230 related deaths have been reported by the Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare of Bangladesh since 1 January 2022, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.44%. Dengue has been endemic in the
country since 2000, primarily due to the widespread establishment of the Aedes aegypti vector. However, apparently due
to the regional rainfall patterns and higher environmental temperatures, the incidence of dengue has grown considerably
since 2010.
Adequate fluid management is essential to prevent severe outcomes for hospitalized dengue patients. The national
guidelines provide methods for IV fluid administration based on individual patient's age, weight, and gender. During the
peak of the outbreak, when doctors need to manage a huge number of patients, the use of this tool will save their
precious time in calculation of the required fluid amount. The tool will also help new physicians in quickly learning
about fluid management. These are the main reasons why the DengueDrops app has been developed.
The "DengueDrops" strictly adheres to national guidelines, making it an effective clinical decision support system for
healthcare professionals during future dengue outbreaks. We hope that the nationwide scale-up of this digital health
tool can significantly improve the overall dengue treatment and recovery in Bangladesh.
App Layout
The app takes physiological parameters of the patient as input and directly provides the patient-specific fluid
management chart in drops/min unit.
DGHS Approval
The web-app has been approved by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Bangladesh on August 09, 2023 after several iterations and rigorous meetings.
The Team
