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Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or more popularly known as dengue fever does not only occur in adults and children. Pregnant women can also get diseases caused by mosquito bites. So, what are the symptoms of dengue fever during pregnancy and does this condition affect the baby who is in the womb? The following is the review.

What is dengue fever?

Before understanding further, you need to know what dengue hemorrhagic fever is. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a contagious disease caused by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Before entering the dengue hemorrhagic fever phase, someone who is bitten by this mosquito first experiences a condition called dengue fever. Dengue fever is different from dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

Quoted from Kompas, FKUI Internal Medicine Specialist at RCSM, Leonard Nainggolan, stated that the main difference between these two conditions is plasma leakage. Blood consists of components, namely plasma in the form of fluid and blood cells in the form of solids. Plasma leak is a condition when the gaps between the cells in the blood vessels become enlarged, resulting in the discharge of blood plasma from the blood vessels. As a result, the blood becomes thicker so that the supply to important organs is reduced.

A person who is bitten by the Aedes aegypti mosquito but does not experience plasma leakage only has dengue fever. However, if the dengue fever does not go away and even gets worse and results in plasma leakage, then he can get dengue hemorrhagic fever or what common people call dengue fever.

Therefore, compared to dengue fever, dengue fever is a more serious condition that can result in death.

Symptoms of dengue fever during pregnancy

Detecting DHF as early as possible can reduce the severity of the disease. For that, understand the various symptoms that are caused when you have dengue fever during pregnancy. Based on the Centers Disease for Prevention (CDC), usually people who experience dengue, including pregnant women, experience various symptoms such as:

High fever more than 38 degrees Celsius and lasts 3 to 7 days.
Changes in body temperature from high fever to hypothermia (when the body temperature is below 35 degrees Celsius) to cause the body to shiver.
Severe stomach pain.
Continuous vomiting.
Platelets decreased dramatically.
Bleeding gums and nose.
Symptoms of shock include restlessness, cold sweat, and an increased but weak heart rate.
Red spots appear on the skin due to bleeding in the body.
Buildup of fluid between the two layers of the pleura (pleural effusion or wet lung).
Buildup of fluid in the stomach (ascites).

Various symptoms that are ignored and not treated immediately can result in the death of the mother and fetus.

What happens to the fetus when pregnant women get DHF?

DHF is very dangerous for pregnant women because this virus can be transmitted during pregnancy even during childbirth. Various risks to the fetus when the mother is exposed to dengue hemorrhagic fever during pregnancy, namely:

Babies born dead (stillbirth).
Low birth weight.
Premature birth resulting in immature growth of the baby's organs.
Miscarriage, if the mother has dengue fever in the early trimester of pregnancy.

How to treat DHF?

DHF requires immediate treatment to control symptoms and keep the infection from getting worse. Usually, the doctor will provide treatments such as:

Supply fluids through intravenous fluids.
Provide pain relievers.
Electrolyte therapy.
Blood transfusion.
Monitor blood pressure regularly.
Oxygen therapy.

The doctor will continue to monitor the condition of the body and provide various other treatments according to the body's response.

Prevent dengue in the following ways

To protect yourself from dengue fever during pregnancy, you need to take several precautions such as:

Keeping the environment clean and closing stagnant water around the house.
Wear loose, light colored clothing and cover your arms and legs to prevent mosquito bites.
Use a mosquito net at night while you sleep and mosquito repellent either rubbed directly onto the skin or spray insect repellent.
Keep the room cool because mosquitoes tend to like warm and hot places.

Maintaining the condition of the body during pregnancy is very important to do to prevent the appearance of diseases that can adversely affect the fetus you are carrying. For that, always consult your health and your baby regularly during pregnancy. In addition, increase your sensitivity to the signals your body is giving you. Never ignore it because it can endanger you and your little one.