Dengue hemorrhagic fever: All you need to know about this rare complication

Even though we have officially exited the monsoon season, the dengue cases in the country continue to rise dramatically. This year, dengue cases led to severe symptoms and hospitalisation, all due to the new D2 strain of the virus. Besides, overlapping symptoms of dengue with COVID-19 made it more complex to detect the correct diseases earlier and start treatment at the right time.

Fever, chills, muscle pain and rashes are typical symptoms of dengue. This disease is seldom fatal, but delay in treatment can progress into a more serious condition known as dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Dengue is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. It can even happen when a person is exposed to infected blood, but mosquito bites are more common.

Once you are infected with one type of virus, you may develop immunity against it for the rest of your life. However, it does not protect you from other strains of the virus. A person may come in contact with all four strains of the dengue virus. In fact, studies suggest that coming in contact with different strains of the dengue virus makes the person more vulnerable to developing dengue hemorrhagic fever. Some people even develop a hemorrhagic fever after recovering from the dengue virus infection.

Read more: Why don’t we have a safe and effective dengue vaccine yet

Symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever differ from the severity of the case. Mild cases of the condition may include:

Bleeding under the skin

Frequent vomiting

Abdominal pain

Mild, moderate, or high fever

Headaches

Nausea

Pain in the muscles, bones, or joints

Rashes on the skin

If you are recovering from dengue and suddenly you develop new symptoms that may also indicate dengue hemorrhagic fever. Call your doctor if you witness:

Restlessness

Acute, or sudden, fever

Severe abdominal pain

Bleeding or bruising under the skin

Cold or clammy skin

Nosebleeds

The mosquito-borne disease, dengue can cause infection in any individual and even cause severe symptoms in case of carelessness and delayed treatment. The chances of developing dengue hemorrhagic fever are common among:

Infants and small children

Pregnant people

Older adults

Those with compromised immune systems

Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may opt for one or two of the following treatment options:

Over-the-counter or prescription drugs to manage pain

Electrolyte therapy

Blood transfusions

Oxygen therapy

All of these methods help to control the symptoms of dengue from alleviating, allowing your body to heal naturally.

It is always better to protect yourself from diseases than to take treatment afterwards. Although there is no vaccine to prevent dengue you can prevent the infection from spreading by taking simple measures:

Ensure that stagnant water containers are removed

Use mosquito repellant and cream on open parts of the body

Make sure windows and doors are closed after sunset

Wear full clothes when going out

Keep your water tank covered

Do not litter open places surrounding your house

Do not allow obstruction and collection of water

Do not stay outdoor after sunset

Do not ignore any symptoms of dengue-like fever and chills