When dengue strikes - question on hospital etiquette

Lindsay · Oct 11th, 2009, 14:51

So, two people I know who live in south Delhi (reeeally central south Delhi, not the far-flung areas) have come down with dengue fever this week.

I don't know how hospitals work here, and I also don't know what the etiquette is with regard to blood donations and visiting friends in hospital. Hoping someone can advise me?

That is, to be more specific -- where I'm from, there are strict, set visiting hours; you bring flowers or cards or books but never food; you make sure to leave your friends alone and unmolested (even by phone calls) until they've started feeling better; and you run your visits by the family before you go, just to make sure they're up to having visitors.

I get the feeling that the etiquette here is different but having been lucky enough never to have to learn it before, I could use some advice. I was hoping people might counsel me on how, as a friend, I might be of help to them, without getting in the way or imposing on them -- i.e., what is normal and expected and okay to do as a friend, and what would be inappropriate. (Impromptu visit to hospital, without invitation: inappropriate, as it would be in the US, or okay?) Also, how to go about making a blood donation for a person (although I don't know my blood type) even if they seem to be reluctant to put me to the "trouble" of doing so. (Obviously, I am glad to do so!)

gypsie,lotus · Oct 11th, 2009, 15:03

I do not think it is much of a problem visiting but the patient may be too sick to want you there. Think about that. I got Dengue fever in Delhi in 1995 and was so sick. I left Delhi for London and when I got there I was so delirious with such high fever for several days time I do not remember much, only about how dehydrated I was.
Sincerely, Gypsie

Haylo · Oct 11th, 2009, 15:05

Lindsay, sorry to hear your friends have dengue, it really is a nasty disease and we were far more concerned about this in Delhi than malaria.

Can't help you with hospital visiting, but there is an excellent thread on here about blood donations.
To be fair, I should also point you towards this thread about fake syringes being used in both public and private hospitals.

Nick-H · Oct 11th, 2009, 16:51

Lindsay, I don't think you need to be too bothered about etiquette or rules!

I've visited people in hospital here a few times (five or six?) ranging from Apollo (posh, private, expensive) to charity-run (not posh, not private, not expensive, but not free either) organisations. There doesn't seem to be a rule, in practice, at least, except you are expected to vanish like a puff of smoke when the doctor does his rounds. As a man visiting a women's ward, obviously one is also ushered out if the modesty of any patient in the ward requires it. Probably true of women visiting men too.

If your friends are in private hospitals, they are probably goint to be fed quite well. I haven't yet been in a government hospital (oh, one... but it was a cancer speciality institute, not much like the general hospitals) but I have heard that if people do not bring in food, the patients don't eat much. If your friends ask for food, etc, take it... there should be no problem, unless dietary restriction is part of their treatment.

(which reminds me... I used to smuggle burgers into a London hospital for one friend)

A the lower[-ish] (I think both of the church-run hospitals I've been in were fairly decent, but still a world away from somewhere like Apollo) end of the hospital market, friends and relatives actually do quite a lot of the basic looking after.

Blood donations: Horse first, then cart... get a blood test and see what group you are. Probably you could meet your friends' doc[s] and ask for a test request, and take it to the lab department of the same hospital.

Best wishes for your friends' recovery. They need to be properly informed about this disease, as I believe that it can be very very dangerous if caught a second time.

obione980 · Oct 11th, 2009, 18:46

In Australia - where the disease is not uncommon in the far North - it is recognised that a third attack will probably be very dangerous! However, there are 4 types of Dengue, and an attack confers immunity against that type - so recurrences are unlikely; triple recurrences almost impossible. There is however good evidence that sequential infection increases the risk of developing DHF.

The killer is Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever; a potentially lethal complication for which the likelihood of development is increased by repeated Dengue infections.

nayan · Oct 15th, 2009, 12:06

About the etiquette -

how close a friend are you? Is it a workmate?
Its better to inform family members(if you are a relative/close friend)or another friend(who may know the family members in case you dont know them)that you are planning to visit.

There are visiting hours. Usually 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. Usually the family members will be visiting every day.

Unless you are very close there is no need to take anything with you.

Oct 11th, 2009, 14:51	#1
Lindsay Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Delhi Posts: 71	When dengue strikes - question on hospital etiquette So, two people I know who live in south Delhi (reeeally central south Delhi, not the far-flung areas) have come down with dengue fever this week. I don't know how hospitals work here, and I also don't know what the etiquette is with regard to blood donations and visiting friends in hospital. Hoping someone can advise me? That is, to be more specific -- where I'm from, there are strict, set visiting hours; you bring flowers or cards or books but never food; you make sure to leave your friends alone and unmolested (even by phone calls) until they've started feeling better; and you run your visits by the family before you go, just to make sure they're up to having visitors. I get the feeling that the etiquette here is different but having been lucky enough never to have to learn it before, I could use some advice. I was hoping people might counsel me on how, as a friend, I might be of help to them, without getting in the way or imposing on them -- i.e., what is normal and expected and okay to do as a friend, and what would be inappropriate. (Impromptu visit to hospital, without invitation: inappropriate, as it would be in the US, or okay?) Also, how to go about making a blood donation for a person (although I don't know my blood type) even if they seem to be reluctant to put me to the "trouble" of doing so. (Obviously, I am glad to do so!)

Oct 11th, 2009, 15:05	#3
Haylo Structural Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Middle East and heading Easter Posts: 5,804	Lindsay, sorry to hear your friends have dengue, it really is a nasty disease and we were far more concerned about this in Delhi than malaria. Can't help you with hospital visiting, but there is an excellent thread on here about blood donations. To be fair, I should also point you towards this thread about fake syringes being used in both public and private hospitals. __________________ The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

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Oct 11th, 2009, 15:03	#2
gypsie,lotus "LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL" Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NEW ORLEANS, USA Posts: 155	I do not think it is much of a problem visiting but the patient may be too sick to want you there. Think about that. I got Dengue fever in Delhi in 1995 and was so sick. I left Delhi for London and when I got there I was so delirious with such high fever for several days time I do not remember much, only about how dehydrated I was. Sincerely, Gypsie

Oct 11th, 2009, 16:51	#4
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Lindsay, I don't think you need to be too bothered about etiquette or rules! I've visited people in hospital here a few times (five or six?) ranging from Apollo (posh, private, expensive) to charity-run (not posh, not private, not expensive, but not free either) organisations. There doesn't seem to be a rule, in practice, at least, except you are expected to vanish like a puff of smoke when the doctor does his rounds. As a man visiting a women's ward, obviously one is also ushered out if the modesty of any patient in the ward requires it. Probably true of women visiting men too. If your friends are in private hospitals, they are probably goint to be fed quite well. I haven't yet been in a government hospital (oh, one... but it was a cancer speciality institute, not much like the general hospitals) but I have heard that if people do not bring in food, the patients don't eat much. If your friends ask for food, etc, take it... there should be no problem, unless dietary restriction is part of their treatment. (which reminds me... I used to smuggle burgers into a London hospital for one friend) A the lower[-ish] (I think both of the church-run hospitals I've been in were fairly decent, but still a world away from somewhere like Apollo) end of the hospital market, friends and relatives actually do quite a lot of the basic looking after. Blood donations: Horse first, then cart... get a blood test and see what group you are. Probably you could meet your friends' doc[s] and ask for a test request, and take it to the lab department of the same hospital. Best wishes for your friends' recovery. They need to be properly informed about this disease, as I believe that it can be very very dangerous if caught a second time.

Oct 11th, 2009, 18:46	#5
obione980 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brisbane Posts: 381	In Australia - where the disease is not uncommon in the far North - it is recognised that a third attack will probably be very dangerous! However, there are 4 types of Dengue, and an attack confers immunity against that type - so recurrences are unlikely; triple recurrences almost impossible. There is however good evidence that sequential infection increases the risk of developing DHF. The killer is Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever; a potentially lethal complication for which the likelihood of development is increased by repeated Dengue infections.

Oct 15th, 2009, 12:06	#6
nayan Forum Leader Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 1,930	About the etiquette - how close a friend are you? Is it a workmate? Its better to inform family members(if you are a relative/close friend)or another friend(who may know the family members in case you dont know them)that you are planning to visit. There are visiting hours. Usually 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. Usually the family members will be visiting every day. Unless you are very close there is no need to take anything with you.