Some consequences of dengue in humans include high fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, rash on the skin, and muscle and joint pain.
In some cases, the disease may develop in dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in hemorrhages and low levels of platelets; or shock syndrome, with low levels of blood pressure.
Dengue is spread by different species of the mosquito type aedes. The virus has five different types; infection of one type usually provides lifetime immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Dengue can occur in the form of severe dengue fever or dengue fever.
Numerous tests are available to confirm the diagnosis. A new dengue vaccine has been approved and is commercially available in some countries
Other methods of prevention include reducing mosquito habitat and limiting exposure or avoiding bites.
Treatment for dengue includes providing fluids either orally or intravenously. In more severe cases, blood transfusion may be needed.
About half a million people require hospitalization per year to be treated for dengue. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, should not be used.
The 8 main consequences of dengue for the human body
1- High fever and muscle pain
The main characteristic of dengue fever is a high fever, potentially over 40 ° C, which can last from 2 to 7 days.
Dengue fever is characterized by febrile behavior with two peaks. At the beginning of the infection the patient experiences a high body temperature, which then begins to fall, to rise suddenly a second time. This fever is accompanied by severe muscle pain and joint pain.
Fever can be defined as having a body temperature above the normal range; usually occurs when the temperature is greater than 37.5 or 38.3 ° C. This temperature rise triggers muscle contractions that cause a feeling of cold.
2- Loss of plasma
Infection of the dengue virus can cause severe dengue fever, which is more serious than dengue fever. Although the symptoms of severe dengue are similar to the less severe form, severe dengue can bring more complications, and even death.
The major symptom of severe dengue is the loss of plasma from the capillaries. This loss occurs 24 to 48 hours after the patient's fever subsides, a period that doctors refer to as the critical phase.
Leaking plasma from the circulatory system can cause fluids to collect in body cavities. Doctors can detect plasma loss by observing a higher than normal concentration of red blood cells and an abnormal level of low blood proteins.
3- Hemorrhage
Another consequence of severe dengue is severe bleeding. In some cases, bleeding from the stomach and intestines can lead to death.
Patients with dengue fever may have bleeding from the skin (bleeding below the surface of the skin) that appears as red or purple marks on the body.
Dengue fever can also cause bleeding into the skin, nose and gums.
4- Shock
Loss of plasma and protein in the body can cause a patient to experience a condition called shock. Patients in shock show signs of circulatory failure.
The lack of circulation in the blood causes patients to have a cold, blue and viscous skin. Patients who experience shock may appear restless, and their blood pressure and pulse may not be perceived. Severe dengue can also lead to respiratory problems and problems in other organs.
If left untreated, shock can lead to patient death within 24 hours; if it is treated rapidly with intravenous fluid, patients can recover.
5- Rash on the skin
The rash in dengue fever is a maculopapular or confluent macular rash dispersed on the face, chest and bending surfaces, with well-defined skin spaces. The rash typically begins on day three and persists for two to three days.
Almost half of the patients infected with dengue fever develop this characteristic rash.
In children, a second rash may occur, one to two days after the cessation of fever, lasting from one to five days. This rash may be similar to measles; is maculopapular, and does not occur on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Occasionally this rash will flake off.
Guillain-Barré syndrome
This syndrome implies a muscle weakness caused by the immune system that damages the peripheral nervous system.
Initial symptoms typically involve changes in feeling or pain along with muscle weakness, starting with the feet and hands. This is often spread across the arms and upper body, with both sides involved.
The symptoms develop from a few hours and can last up to a few weeks. During the acute phase, this disorder can threaten life. About 15% of patients require mechanical ventilation because they have developed respiratory muscle weakness.
Some people are affected by changes in the function of the autonomic nervous system, which can lead to dangerous abnormalities in blood pressure and heart rate.
Recovery can take from weeks to years; about a third of people experience permanent weakness. Globally, death occurs in 7.5% of those affected.
Although not as common, viral infection of dengue has been associated with episodes of this syndrome.
7- Fetal death and premature births
Dengue is especially dangerous for pregnant women because they can transmit the virus to your baby during pregnancy or at birth. This can result in fetal death, low birth weight or premature births.
In addition, babies infected with dengue are at a higher risk of developing a severe case of the disease.
8- Low platelets
The t thrombocytopenia (a low platelet count) is usually associated with dengue fever.
The causes of low platelets in dengue fever include a suppression of the bone marrow, which creates less platelet production. The dengue virus causes direct damage to the bone marrow.
In addition, the virus causes further destruction of platelets. Platelets are also infected by dengue, leading to platelet dysfunction and low platelet count.
References
- Dengue fever. Retrieved from wikipedia.org
- What is dengue fever? Retrieved from nature.com
- Dengue fever in pregnancy. Recovered from babycenter.com
- Guillain-Barré syndrome. Retrieved from wikipedia.org
- Dengue and severe dengue (2017). Retrieved from who.intl
- Why do you dengue fever patients have a low count of platelets (2017). Recovered from quora.com
- Dengue clinical presentation (2017). Retrieved from emedicine.medscape.com