Beware of Dengue Fever by Recognizing the Symptoms

What is Dengue Fever?

Dengue fever (DHF) is a disease caused by the Dengue virus which is transmitted through mosquito bites. This disease is common in tropical and subtropical regions. Dengue fever can cause symptoms of high fever, headache, and bone and muscle aches. for more severe DHF conditions, it can cause serious bleeding and death.

Dengue fever can attack children or adults. This disease is transmitted only when a mosquito bites a DHF sufferer, then bites a healthy person.

Based on the level of severity, dengue fever is divided into three types, namely:

Dengue fever (dengue fever), the symptoms tend to be mild and without signs of bleeding
Dengue hemorrhagic fever (dengue hemorrhagic fever or DHF), which is DHF with severe symptoms and signs of bleeding, such as nosebleeds or bleeding gums
Shock syndrome due to dengue (dengue shock syndrome  or DSS), namely severe dengue with a high mortality rate, which is usually characterized by symptoms of weakness or unconsciousness, cold sweat, vomiting of blood, or shortness of breath
Causes of Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus. Two mosquitoes that can transmit this virus are Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, these mosquitoes are usually active and bite in the morning and evening. This mosquito lives in stagnant water that is calm and basically clean, such as puddles in car tires, plastic waste or animal drinking places.

Symptoms and Complications of Dengue Fever

In general, the DHF phase is shaped like a horse's saddle cycle, starting with a sudden fever on the first day until the third day of this disease phase. Fever can reach temperatures of 39−40°C, which is difficult to reduce even though the patient has taken antipyretic drugs. Fever may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as:

• Terrible headache
• Pain behind the eye
• Muscle and joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Weak
• Nausea and vomiting
• Skin rash occurs

Furthermore, DHF will continue to a critical phase, namely on day 4 to day 6. In this phase, the fever goes down but bleeding symptoms, such as nosebleeds or vomiting blood, easily occur. Platelets that have decreased drastically can also occur in this critical phase.

If not handled properly, sufferers of dengue fever in the critical phase can experience complications in the form of accumulation of fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity, severe bleeding, and failure of blood flow to vital organs (shock).

If handled quickly and appropriately, DHF sufferers will recover within 1-2 weeks. However, if the condition of dengue fever is severe, blood vessels can become damaged and leak. This condition will cause the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in the bloodstream to fall. This condition can cause shock, internal bleeding, organ failure and even death. The condition of severe dengue fever usually begins the first day or two after the fever is gone, the signs are:

• Severe stomach ache.
• Constant vomiting.
• Bleeding from the gums or nose.
• Blood in urine, stool, or vomit.
• Bleeding under the skin, which looks like a bruise.
• Difficult or rapid breathing.
• Fatigue.
• Irritability or restlessness.

Treatment  of Dengue Fever

If you experience DHF symptoms, immediately consult a doctor, especially if people around you have been diagnosed with this disease.

Treatment can be done immediately through emergency medical treatment if:

• Appears limp or dazed
• Skin feels wet and cold
• Severe stomach ache
• Severe vomiting, especially if it is accompanied by blood
• Hard to breathe
• Nosebleeds and bleeding gums
• Black or bloody stools

Prevention of Dengue Fever
Because DHF is caused by mosquito bites, mosquito bite prevention and mosquito population control are the main methods for preventing the spread and transmission of dengue fever.

If Hermina's friends live or travel to areas that are often affected by this disease, you can apply the following tips to reduce the risk of mosquito bites:

Use air conditioning or mosquito nets installed over ventilation and beds, as the mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus are most active from dawn to dusk, but they can also bite at night.
wear protective clothing when going to mosquito-infested areas, such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes.
Use insect repellent that can be applied to clothes, shoes, camping gear, mosquito nets or skin.
Reducing mosquito habitat by covering stagnant water. Mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus usually live in and around homes, breeding in stagnant water. Cover or throw away any containers with standing water

So, if Hermina's best friend experiences symptoms that are indicated to lead to dengue fever, immediately go to the doctor for an examination so that she can get treatment earlier and faster. so that the health condition can be maintained and avoid the severe category of dengue fever which can cause death.