Table of contents:
- Understand the red spots in DHF patients
- Why can DHF rash and rash appear?
- What is the difference between dengue fever red spots and other diseases?
- 1. Time of appearance
- 2. Left behind
- 3. Accompanying symptoms
- What should be done to overcome dengue fever?
Who doesn't know dengue hemorrhagic fever, or what we usually know as DHF? This contagious disease is caused by the dengue virus which is transmitted by mosquitoes Aedes aegypti. Well, one of the most characteristic symptoms of DHF is the appearance of red spots or rashes on the skin. However, there are still many people who mistake red spots for other diseases because of their similarity. Come on, get to know more about the red spots typical of dengue fever or DHF and how it is different from other diseases.
Understand the red spots in DHF patients
Dengue hemorrhagic fever or DHF is a disease caused by infection with the dengue virus, which is transmitted through mosquito bites Aedes aegypti.
When a person is infected with the dengue virus, the symptoms of dengue will begin to appear 4-7 days after being bitten by a mosquito for the first time. These symptoms can include:
- Sudden high fever
- Headache and pain in the eye
- Muscle aches and joint pains
- Nausea and vomiting
- A red spot or rash appears
Well, one of the most common symptoms of dengue fever is the appearance of red spots on the skin. Red spots or rashes will cover the face, neck, chest, and sometimes also appear on the arms and legs. Even though the skin is stretched, the red spots will still be visible.
A red rash at the onset of dengue symptoms usually appears 2-5 days after you first experience a fever. The rash that appears during this period will look like reddish patches, which are sometimes accompanied by several white patches in the middle.
The red rash and freckles then usually lessen when entering the 4th and 5th day, until finally disappearing after the 6th day.
After that, the new red spots will appear 3-5 days after the first symptoms appear. The appearance of these spots is quite deceptive because they are similar to other diseases, such as measles.
Why can DHF rash and rash appear?
The rash and red spots that appear when you have dengue fever appear because of several possibilities.
The first is the response of the patient's immune system when he is attacked by a virus. When the dengue virus infects the body, the immune system reacts in an effort to eradicate the virus. One form of reaction that appears is the appearance of a rash and spots.
The second possibility is dilation of the capillaries. The capillaries are located quite close to the surface of the skin, so reddish patches are easily visible if the vessels are dilated.
However, it is not certain what causes dilated capillaries. This phenomenon is possibly closely related to the decrease in blood platelet levels in DHF patients.
What is the difference between dengue fever red spots and other diseases?
In recent years it has been agreed that the clinical symptoms of DHF vary, so the progression of this disease is difficult to predict. This is because the results of the case findings in the field differ from existing theories. This is what causes the initial symptoms of DHF, sometimes it is difficult to distinguish it from several other diseases.
One disease that is often confused with the symptoms of DHF is measles. Measles itself is an infectious disease caused by a paramyxovirus, which is transmitted through air contact (airborne).
Measles also causes symptoms in the form of a red rash on the skin accompanied by a high fever. Then, how to distinguish it from a red spot or rash in DHF patients?
1. Time of appearance
What distinguishes a dengue rash or rash from measles is the time it appears. DHF symptoms will usually appear 2-5 days after the patient is first exposed to the virus. The first symptom is usually fever, and the rash will appear 2 days after the patient first developed a fever.
In contrast to DHF, measles takes 10-12 days for fever symptoms to appear for the first time after the first exposure to the virus. In addition, the rash in measles usually appears on the 3rd day after the patient has a fever, then it will multiply on the 6th and 7th days. The rash can even last for 3 weeks.
2. Left behind
Both DHF and measles rash and rash disappear after 5-6 days. However, the marks that are left behind will usually be different.
In DHF patients, the rash and spots that disappear will not leave any scars at all. Meanwhile, measles will usually cause peeling in the area of the rash, leaving brown marks on the skin.
3. Accompanying symptoms
Red spots and a rash of dengue can also be distinguished from measles based on other accompanying symptoms. Although both are characterized by high fever, there is a slight difference that you can recognize.
High fever and a rash from measles are usually accompanied by symptoms of cough, sore throat, runny nose and red eyes (conjunctivitis). However, the DHF rash is not accompanied by these symptoms.
What should be done to overcome dengue fever?
If the rash and red spots that appear on your skin are confirmed symptoms of dengue, you should immediately see a doctor to get the right dengue treatment.
The reason is, dengue fever has the risk of getting worse if it is not handled properly, it even has the potential to cause dangerous complications of DHF.
You can also take dengue prevention steps so that you and those closest to you do not get this disease. The following are the steps recommended by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia in preventing DHF:
- Take 3M steps (drain the water reservoir, close the water reservoir, and recycle used goods)
- Sprinkle larvicide powder on water reservoirs that are difficult to clean
- Using mosquito repellent or mosquito repellent
- Using a mosquito net while sleeping
- Maintaining mosquito larvae predatory fish
- Growing mosquito repellent plants
- Regulate light and ventilation in the house
- Avoid the habit of hanging clothes and storing used items in the house, which can be a place for mosquitoes to gather
