Severe dengue with complications; DJ Ken Cheng reveals harrowing 7-day hospitalization ordeal

(Kuala Lumpur, 21st) Ai FM DJ JC Keng Cheng recently shared a harrowing seven-day experience battling a life-threatening illness on social media. He revealed that doctors told him his condition could have turned out very differently if he had been admitted just half a day later, describing the ordeal as a close brush with death.

JC said he was suddenly hospitalized last Saturday and casually posted a photo from his hospital bed, which unexpectedly drew widespread concern. He later confirmed that he had been diagnosed with dengue fever with complications.

He recounted that his symptoms began the previous Wednesday with a persistent high fever. Initial tests for influenza and COVID-19 were negative, and his platelet count was still at 242, so dengue was not immediately suspected. However, his condition worsened rapidly. After further consultation, he was diagnosed with dengue, and his platelet count dropped to 147. That night, he experienced insomnia and breathing difficulties, prompting him to seek hospitalization the next day.

Upon admission, his condition had deteriorated significantly. His platelet count plunged to around 30, while his ferritin levels spiked to 52,000 (normal male levels are below 500). He was diagnosed with severe dengue, accompanied by complications including shock, lung infection, plasma leakage, and liver impairment.

Adding to the complexity, JC has two underlying red blood cell genetic conditions, making treatment more challenging. He was immediately placed in a High Dependency Unit (HDU) for close monitoring. During hospitalization, his oxygen levels remained low, and his critically low platelet count required constant vigilance against bleeding and respiratory deterioration.

On his seventh day in the hospital, he asked doctors why recovery was slow, only to receive a chilling response: “If you had come in half a day or a day later, the outcome could have been very different.”

His experience highlights the severity of dengue fever. Within just two hours, his post garnered nearly a thousand supportive comments from fans wishing him a speedy recovery.