Symptoms of dengue fever that you should not ignore

Dengue fever or DHF is often confused with the symptoms of other diseases which are also characterized by fever. Because, there are some symptoms that are similar to other diseases, such as flu or viral or bacterial infections. If you don't get immediate treatment, dengue fever can be fatal. The following are symptoms of dengue fever or dengue that patients should not ignore.

What is dengue fever?

Dengue hemorrhagic fever or DHF is a contagious disease caused by the dengue virus which is carried by mosquitoes.

Mild dengue fever can cause high fever, rash, and muscle and joint pain. Meanwhile, severe dengue fever, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause serious bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure and even death.

There are four serotypes of dengue virus that cause DHF, namely DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4. Infection of these viruses causes various symptoms such as fever, dizziness, pain in the eyeballs, muscles, joints, and a rash.

Common symptoms of dengue fever (DHF)

According to the CDC website, it is estimated that 1 in 4 cases of dengue fever are asymptomatic, aka not showing any features or symptoms at all.

However, most people with dengue fever will experience symptoms about 4-10 days after the patient gets a bite from a dengue fever mosquito Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albocpictus. During these 4-10 days, the dengue virus that enters the body will go through the incubation period first, until finally you will actually experience symptoms.

In children who have never been infected before, the symptoms of dengue fever tend to be more severe than in adults.

After you experience the symptoms of dengue fever as described above, you will go through the following phases of dengue fever:

• Initial phase: the most typical symptom when exposed to early phase dengue fever is high fever. The appearance of high fever in cases of dengue fever is often accompanied by flushing, red skin, body aches, muscle aches, and headaches.
• Critical phase: this phase is characterized by a decrease in body temperature to normal temperature. However, patients are actually at the highest risk of experiencing leakage of blood vessels.
• Healing phase: dengue fever sufferers will feel fever again. However, this condition is a healing phase where the platelets of DHF patients will slowly rise and return to normal.

For this reason, patients and families need to know the difference between the symptoms of dengue fever that appear with the symptoms of other diseases so they do not ignore them. The following are common signs and symptoms of dengue fever that patients should not ignore.

1. Sudden high fever

Fever is possible in many diseases. However, in the early symptoms of DHF, fever occurs suddenly and many people do not know the difference between ordinary fever and fever caused by DHF.

The contrasting difference between the symptoms of dengue fever and other fever symptoms is that dengue fever can reach 40 Celsius. Fever that occurs due to flu and infection from viruses or bacteria is usually accompanied by symptoms of sneezing or coughing while the symptoms of fever in DHF are not. Fever as a symptom of DHF can last for two to seven days.

2. Pain in the muscles

After the symptoms of dengue fever such as fever occur, the patient will feel pain in the muscles and joints. Symptoms of dengue fever are accompanied by chills and sweating.

That is why dengue fever used to be called a disease "break-bone"Because sometimes it often causes joint and muscle pain, where the bone feels like a fracture.

3. Severe headache and pain in the back of the eye

A few hours after experiencing a fever, the next symptom of DHF that will appear is a severe headache. Usually the pain occurs around the forehead.

A severe headache is also accompanied by pain at the back of the eye. These are common features and symptoms of dengue fever that often occur.

4. Nausea and vomiting

In some people, digestive problems can also occur, such as nausea and vomiting. In addition, the stomach or back feels uncomfortable. This one dengue symptom can occur for two to four days.

5. Fatigue

Fever accompanied by muscle pain and digestive problems that occur in DHF patients can reduce appetite. Of course this causes the body to become tired due to lack of food intake and a weakened immune system.

6. A rash or red spots appear

Rash and red spots are also typical symptoms of DHF. It is possible that a red rash can appear on the face, neck, and chest within 24-48 hours of the first symptoms appearing.

Meanwhile, red spots or what is called petechiae will be visible 3-5 days later.

The rash in DHF is usually caused by widening of the capillaries that are just under the skin, while the red spots are thought to be a response of the body's immune system against the dengue virus.

7. Dehydration

During the DHF recovery period, pay attention to symptoms of dehydration because this is prone to occur. This symptom is at risk of occurring because DHF patients lose too much fluid due to high fever and frequent vomiting.

Dehydration due to DHF is usually found more frequently in pediatric patients than in adults. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms such as:

• The frequency and amount of urine decreases
• There are no tears
• Dry mouth or lips
• Confusion
• Feeling cold

You must pay attention to the balance of fluids in the body during the recovery period after dengue fever. Not only water, you can also consume or provide other fluids that contain nutrients such as vitamin C and electrolytes.

The danger is if the symptoms of DHF do not get immediate treatment

The symptoms of DHF above need to be considered and must receive treatment as soon as possible. Because if you don't get proper help, this disease has the potential to develop into severe dengue fever.

Dengue virus can develop into severe dengue fever (severe dengue) which can be life threatening. Severe dengue fever can result in stomach pain and vomiting, difficulty breathing, and a decrease in blood platelets which can lead to internal bleeding.

Here are the symptoms of dengue fever that has progressed to a more severe level:

1. Bleeding

Due to the decrease in platelet levels in DHF sufferers and the susceptibility to damage to blood vessels, the patient is at risk of experiencing bleeding symptoms. Symptoms of dengue bleeding can be mild to severe.

Disorders such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and bruises that appear without cause are signs of dengue fever that has entered a severe level.

Severe dengue can also result in more frequent vomiting, accompanied by blood. Blood can also be found when you have a bowel movement or urination.

Therefore, you must be vigilant if abnormal bleeding starts to occur when you have dengue.

2. Severe stomach pain

Symptoms of unbearable abdominal pain are also frequently reported in patients with severe DHF.

Abdominal pain can also be accompanied by frequent symptoms of nausea and vomiting. According to an article from Journal of Acute Disease, abdominal pain in DHF patients may be associated with cholecystitis (blockage of the bile ducts, kidney failure, and pancreatitis as a complication of DHF.

The above symptoms can get worse and cause heavy bleeding. in shock, and death. This condition is called dengue shock syndrome (DSS). People who have weak immune systems are also more at risk of having a more severe condition when they are infected with dengue fever.

How to prevent DHF symptoms from occurring?

In order to avoid the disease and symptoms of dengue fever, you are advised to be more vigilant and take the following steps to prevent dengue fever:

• Clean the water reservoir once a week: cleaning your bathtub at least once a week can break the mosquito life cycle Aedes.
• Cover water reservoirs: basins filled with water, flower vases, buckets, and other containers that can hold water have the potential to become a place for mosquitoes to nest.
• Use mosquito netting: You can attach this mosquito netting to your doors and windows.
• Avoid piling up or hanging clothes for too long: indeed a pile of dirty clothes is not a breeding ground for mosquitoes, but a favorite place for mosquitoes to perch.
• Use a mosquito repellent lotion: when you are going to travel or sleep, don't forget to use a mosquito repellent, especially on parts of the body that are not covered by clothing.