Symptoms of dengue fever that you need to watch out for

Entering the rainy season, it's not just flu or colds that are common. Other diseases that are quite serious, such as dengue fever are also starting to spread. You may see a lot of the news on television, about the large number of dengue patients who fill the hospital. In addition, the government also aggressively urges the public to prevent transmission and observe the symptoms of dengue fever earlier. Actually, what are the symptoms of dengue fever? Come on, see the following reviews.

Dengue fever and its transmission

Dengue fever or known as DHF is a contagious disease caused by the bite of a mosquito that carries the dengue virus. There are two types of mosquitoes that act as couriers for the spread of the dengue virus, namely Aedes aegypty and Aedes albocpictus. However, the type of mosquito that most often spreads this disease in Indonesia is the female mosquito type Aedes aegypty.

Even though it is called a contagious disease, DHF is not transmitted from person to person, such as flu or colds. The dengue virus needs an intermediary, namely a mosquito to ripen the virus. Then, when the mosquito carrying this virus bites the human skin, the virus will move from through the bite.

People who have been infected with the dengue virus can transmit the infection for 4 to 5 days after the first symptoms of DHF appear. In fact, it can continue to spread viral infections for up to 12 days.

The way the virus spreads is that an infected person is bitten by a mosquito. Then, the virus moves to the mosquito's body and incubates for 4 to 10 days. Furthermore, if the mosquito bites a healthy person, the virus will move and cause infection.

These are the signs and symptoms of dengue fever

Dengue fever is a disease whose initial symptoms resemble the flu. However, it is more severe and causes other symptoms that "paralyze" the activities of the person experiencing it.

In children who have never been infected with the dengue virus before, the symptoms of dengue tend to be more severe than in older adults. In severe cases, complications can occur and can potentially lead to death.

To prevent complications of DHF, you should not ignore the signs and symptoms. The dengue virus affects several body systems, from the immune system, liver system, to blood vessels. That is why, if a person is infected with this virus, the patient will experience several phases of dengue fever, namely the fever phase, the critical phase, and the healing phase.

Now, each phase shows different symptoms. Here's a guide for you and your family so you can be aware of the symptoms of dengue fever earlier based on the phases.

Dengue fever symptoms in the fever phase

1. Sudden high fever

Fever is a common condition. Whether it's children, adolescents, adults, to the elderly. Almost all diseases that cause infection in the body will cause fever symptoms, including dengue fever. This fever indicates that the body is trying to fight infection from the dengue virus. Unfortunately, many people cannot distinguish a common fever from a fever from the symptoms of dengue fever.

When fever is common, you usually know the trigger. For example, a fever caused by the flu virus usually occurs after you get caught in the rain. Meanwhile, dengue fever occurs suddenly without you knowing the trigger.

Then, fever due to flu is also followed by other symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose while dengue fever is not the case. The common fever will get better in a day or two. It is different from fever due to the dengue virus which usually occurs for 2 to 7 days.

You need to record carefully, dengue fever can reach 40 º Celsius. The body temperature is higher than the common fever. Apart from that, these symptoms also cause your body to sweat profusely and shiver. In children or infants, this phase of dengue fever often causes them to become dehydrated.

2. Severe headache

A few hours after experiencing a fever, the next symptom of dengue fever is headache. However, headaches due to dengue are again different from ordinary headaches.

A common headache generally causes a throbbing feeling on the right, left, or both sides of the head. While headaches that occur due to dengue fever, usually cause pain around the forehead. In fact, to penetrate the back of the eye.

3. Body aches, nausea, and vomiting

Apart from headaches, the symptoms of dengue fever that occur after fever are pain in the muscles and joints. This condition certainly makes you unable to move freely and just want to lie on the mattress.

In some people, digestive problems may also occur, for example nausea and vomiting. This discomfort in the stomach also spreads to the back area. Usually these symptoms will occur for 2 to 4 days.

4. Fatigue

Most diseases do make the body weak, including dengue fever. All the symptoms such as fever for a few days, followed by body aches will definitely make the patient's body weak.

In addition, the symptoms of dengue fever, such as nausea and vomiting can also make your appetite decrease. As a result, nutrient intake is reduced, energy in the body decreases, and the immune system weakens.

Dengue fever symptoms in a critical phase

1. Red rash on the skin

One of the typical symptoms of dengue fever apart from sudden high fever is the appearance of a rash on the skin. The appearance of a rash indicates that the patient has entered a critical phase. At this stage, it is better if the patient gets medical care immediately.

Dengue rash usually appears on the face area, then spreads to the neck and chest. However, it can also appear on the palms of the hands, under the feet, and other parts of the body.

If you look closely, the DHF rash looks like a mosquito bite. The red spots are not watery or prominent, like chicken pox and will diminish on the 4th and 5th day until finally disappear on the 6th day.

2. Bleeding and leaked plasma

When the dengue virus enters the body, the immune system will automatically destroy the virus. Unfortunately, the immune system is unable to fight the dengue virus. This causes the immune system to activate endothelial cells — the single lining that encloses blood vessels.

Initially, the endothelial cell gap is very small. However, because the immune system is continuously activated, the gap will get bigger and bigger. As a result, blood plasma, glucose, and other nutrients come out of these gaps. This condition is also called plasma leakage or plasma leakage.

This plasma leak can cause blood flow to be slower. The cells in the body do not get enough nutrients and oxygen. If left untreated, the condition will get worse. Starting from an enlarged liver, circulatory system failure, heavy bleeding, shock, and death can occur.

Some of the signs and symptoms of dengue in a critical phase that really need the help of a doctor, include:

• Severe pain in the stomach
• Vomiting continuously
• Bleeding from the nose or gums
• Vomiting blood
• Black stool
• Pale skin and feels cold to the touch
• Has difficulty breathing
• Decreased platelets

If treated, the patient will experience a healing phase

In the fever phase and the critical phase, which is handled properly, it will make the patient's condition better. This is known as the healing phase, which means that the patient has made it through the critical phase. In this phase, the patient will usually experience fever again. However, you don't need to worry because the platelets will slowly rise and return to normal.

In addition to returning to normal platelets, the healing phase is also marked by symptoms of abdominal pain that begin to disappear, improved diuretic function, and an increase in the patient's appetite. The number of white blood cells in the patient's body will also increase along with the increase in the number of platelets.

How to treat DHF?

Until now, no specific treatment has been found to cure dengue fever. However, the efforts made by medical personnel to reduce the symptoms of dengue fever so that it does not get worse is the need for the patient's body fluids. Why?

Symptoms of dengue fever such as sudden high fever, causing the patient to sweat profusely. Increasing body temperature can reduce water levels in the body.

Coupled with the symptoms of nausea and vomiting, most of which make the food or drink that has been swallowed out of the body. Especially if a plasma leak occurs. Plasma which contains 91% water, blood, and glucose can leave the blood vessels. This is why meeting fluid requirements is the key to restoring patient health.

Now, to replace lost body fluids, patients don't just need water. The reason is, water does not contain complete nutrition that can replace leaking blood plasma. Patients need electrolyte fluids which not only consist of water, but also sodium, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, calcium, and other essential minerals for the body.

Electrolyte fluids that are usually given to patients include sugary drinks, electrolyte drinks, ORS, milk, fruit juices, intravenous fluids, or rice water washing.

Should DHF patients be hospitalized?

Although dengue fever is a dangerous disease, not all patients who experience this disease must be hospitalized (hospitalized). Patients must first undergo medical tests, such as evaluating the symptoms that appear and blood tests.

When the results of the medical examination appear, then the doctor can confirm that the patient has dengue fever. Then, based on this evaluation too, the doctor can determine whether the patient should be hospitalized or not.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) patients with serious symptoms of dengue fever are required to be hospitalized. The reason is, the patient will pass critical times for 24 to 48 hours. This is what determines whether the patient will survive or not.

Well, the signs of a DHF patient who must be hospitalized are patients who experience several symptoms from a critical phase, such as a rash on the skin, bleeding, and continued nausea and vomiting. At the hospital, patients will receive intravenous fluids containing electrolytes, periodic blood pressure checks, and blood transfusions if the patient needs blood due to bleeding.

Conversely, for patients who are not required to undergo hospitalization, it does not mean that they are free from doctor supervision and rely on home remedies. This patient is only advised to go on an outpatient basis.

Doctor's considerations for DHF patients for hospitalization

In addition to the patient's health condition, several considerations that the doctor proposes to the patient's family before allowing DHF patients to be able to do outpatient care, include:

• There is an adequate supply of electrolytes at home
• The family is able to check the patient's temperature with a thermometer regularly
• The assurance that the food consumed by the patient can be digested easily
• The ability of family members to look after the patient throughout the day

If family members do not meet these considerations, doctors usually recommend that patients be hospitalized. This includes if the patient always refuses or finds it difficult to eat or drink anything.

In addition, the patient's age is also a consideration for doctors to determine hospitalization or hospitalization. Especially in children and babies. They tend to experience more severe symptoms of dengue fever than adults. Moreover, children and babies are very susceptible to dehydration.

Adults are usually easier to handle and persuaded to take medication, get adequate rest, drink electrolyte fluids, and eat than children.

How to prevent transmission of dengue disease

DHF is not transmitted through direct contact with patients, but by mosquito bites that carry the virus. So, the key to preventing the transmission of dengue disease is to eradicate the mosquito that carries the virus. There are several things you can do, namely:

1. Do the 3M movement

The 3M movement is an effort encouraged by the government to eradicate the mosquito that carries the dengue virus. This movement consists of 3 actions, namely to drain, close, and bury.

Virus-carrying mosquitoes breed well in clean, calm standing. That means, mosquitoes can be in the house and in the environment where you live, for example, a bathtub, flower vase, bird drinking containers, or unused cans and bottles.

So that mosquitoes do not breed, you must be diligent in draining and cleaning these containers. Then, close the water reservoir so that mosquitoes can't get into it. Furthermore, make sure the environment is free of trash cans or used bottles by burying them in the backyard or recycling.

2. Use mosquito repellent plants

In addition to the 3M movement, you can also decorate your house with mosquito repellent plants, such as lavender, geraniums, kenikir flowers, mint leaves, citrus plants, and lemongrass.

This plant has a distinctive aroma that mosquitoes hate. Apart from making your house look prettier, these plants are also able to repel mosquitoes from your home.

3. Take advantage of the container that is a mosquito nest

If you have a small pond that is not used, the standing water can become a nest for the dengue virus-carrying mosquitoes. So that the mosquitoes don't stay there, take advantage of the pool again.

You do this by cleaning, refilling it with clean water, and inserting mosquito larvae eating fish, such as betta fish, cere fish, or goldfish.