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Frequently asked questions about dengue fever
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The Health Ministry reported that 3,298 people were infected with dengue fever in January this year and 50 of them died because of it. (Shutterstock/File)
I
ndonesia is one of the countries that serves as a habitat for dengue-carrying mosquitoes. Every year in the middle of the rainy season, usually in January, many people catch dengue fever.
The Health Ministry reported that 3,298 people were infected with dengue fever in January this year and 50 of them died because of it.
What is dengue fever?
Dengue fever is still considered a common disease in Indonesia. The mosquito that carries this dengue virus is usually the Aedes aegypti. There are four serotypes that can cause dengue fever: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. All four of these serotypes have been found in Indonesia, so it’s no coincidence that Indonesia is considered one of the countries with the highest rate of dengue. This mosquito bite causes a high fever and rash, as well as muscle and joint soreness.
What are the signs and symptoms of dengue fever?
Many people, primarily teenagers, do not show signs or symptoms when they have a mild-level fever. Symptoms usually occur between day four and 10 after being stung by a mosquito carrying the disease. Symptoms include: high fever (around 40 degrees Celsius); headache; soreness or pain in muscles, joints and bones; pain behind the eyes; rashes or red spots on the skin; nausea and vomiting; and minor bleeding from the gums or nose.
Patients of dengue fever do not usually have all the aforementioned symptoms. Some people only show some of them.
How severe can dengue fever be?
Mild dengue fever can develop into severe dengue fever. Once it reaches a severe stage, various complications can occur. Dengue fever can damage organs such as the lungs, liver and heart. Blood pressure can decrease to a hazardous level and can cause a shock; in some cases it can even cause death. Therefore, if symptoms appear, it’s best to consult your doctor before it starts to get dangerous.
Understanding the dengue cycle
After being bitten, a person will not immediately show symptoms of dengue fever. Usually it takes around four to seven days before signs and symptoms occur. That time period is called the incubation period. After the incubation period, the dengue cycle is divided into three phases that stays around 10 days, which are:
Fever phase: This phase starts when dengue fever symptoms occur, such as fever and a temperature of more than 40 degrees Celsius, headache, nausea, red spots on the skin, sore muscles and joints, etc. This phase usually takes between two to seven days.
(Read also: ASEAN urged to fight dengue together)
Critical phase: Not everyone who has dengue fever will experience this phase. This phase is marked by decreased body temperature of less than 38 Celcius degrees. It usually starts between day four and day seven after infection. During this critical phase, there is an increase in capillary permeability and plasma leakage. This condition can cause severe pain in the stomach due to fluid deposits. During this critical phase, symptoms include vomiting around three times a day, a weak body and hemorrhages in the mucose tissues.
Recovery phase: This phase starts when one passes through the critical phase. The recovery phase occurs as the reabsorbing of extravascular fluid happens gradually; it usually takes around two to three days. The recovery phase is indicated by a fitter body condition and stable hemodynamic status. Some experience itchiness and a low heart rate; some also experience rash, reddish spots with or without skin protrusion followed by exfoliation of the skin.
What foods are recommended for dengue fever patients?
Lots of people bring guava or guava juice when visiting a dengue-infected relative. But what types of food can actually help with the healing process? The following are a number of foods that are recommended:
- Choose foods that are easy to swallow and digest, such as boiled foods. When experiencing high fever, it becomes difficult to eat anything, so it’s best to eat easily digested foods, such as porridge and other soft foods. Avoid fried and greasy food because they’re difficult to digest.
- Vitamin C rich fruits, like strawberries, guava, kiwi, papaya, oranges, etc. This is because vitamin C helps the body to produce lymphocytes and therefore strengthens the immune system.
- Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration due to excreted fluids through vomiting and high fever. Coconut water is good to consume because it contains a lot of electrolytes and minerals. Other than that, you can consume fruit juices that are rich in vitamin C.
- Warm ginger water. Warm ginger water can strengthen the body and reduce the impact of the nausea that most dengue patients experience.
How can we prevent dengue fever?
An effective method to reduce dengue fever is to eliminate the habitat of dengue mosquitoes. In Indonesia, programs to exterminate dengue mosquitoes are carried out, consisting of three components, which aim to reduce the number of mosquito breeding grounds. These are:
- Draining water from places where it can pool such as bath tubs, buckets, drinking water reservoirs, fridge-water reservoirs and other places where water stagnates.
- Covering/sealing water deposits tightly, such as tubs, buckets, water drums, water towers, etc. so that mosquitoes cannot lay eggs inside.
- Reuse or recycle used items that have the potential to become a breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes.
Other than that, some other ways to prevent mosquito bites include installing a mosquito net over your bed, especially for babies and infants; wearing more covering clothes and applying mosquito repellent on the skin. (kes)
