Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a mosquito-borne disease that is most common in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including Indonesia. Both the mosquito population and the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which spreads dengue hemorrhagic fever, increase during the rainy season.

Causes of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

It is essential to remember that direct contact with an infected individual does not spread dengue hemorrhagic fever. The bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito can transmit the dengue virus to humans. A mosquito bite from a person who has the dengue virus in their blood is the only way to spread dengue fever. Transmission of the infection occurs when a mosquito bites another person.

The NCBI classifies dengue viruses into four types. If someone is infected with dengue fever, they will be infected with one of these viruses. Because the types differ, even after recovering from one type of virus, you might acquire dengue hemorrhagic fever with another.

If you contract dengue hemorrhagic fever for the second, third, or fourth time, you are more likely to develop severe symptoms.

Symptoms of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Not every person experiencing dengue exhibits symptoms. People frequently confuse it for the flu when the symptoms are mild. The Mayo Clinic lists the following as mild dengue hemorrhagic fever symptoms:

• Headache
• Muscle, bone and joint pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pain behind the eyes
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Red rash

These mild symptoms can recover in at least a week with adequate rest and nutritious food. However, in some cases, symptoms can worsen and become life-threatening.

According to the CDC, severe dengue hemorrhagic fever symptoms include a fever that persists for 24 to 48 hours. Other associated symptoms include:

• Severe stomach pain
• Vomiting more than 3 times in 24 hours
• Bleeding gums and nosebleeds
• Blood in the urine, stool or vomit
• Bleeding in the tissue under the skin that looks like bruising
• Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
• Anxiety
• Irritability, restlessness, and fatigue

Read more: Prevent Dengue Fever While On Vacation

Complications of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Organ damage and internal bleeding are potential complications of severe dengue fever. Additionally, your blood pressure may fall to potentially fatal levels, and you may experience shock.

Dengue shock syndrome is a term for severe dengue fever symptoms. Severe dengue fever can even be fatal in certain situations.

There is a chance that the dengue virus could infect the developing baby if the pregnant woman experiences it. In addition, the baby is also at risk of being born prematurely, having a low birth weight, or experiencing stress and fetal distress.

There is no particular medication that can treat dengue fever. The only advice you might receive is to take painkillers and stay away from medications that can exacerbate bleeding, like aspirin and NSAIDs. In order to prevent dehydration, the doctor will also advise you to rest and drink a lot of water. 

If the fever does not subside within the first 24 hours and the symptoms worsen, you should seek medical attention immediately in order to avoid complications. While undergoing dengue fever treatment at home, consult a doctor using the Ai Care app.

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