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Amazing! How can dengue fever cause severe illness in just a few days?
Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease, has become a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions. According to the World Health Organization, there were more than 5 million dengue cases in 2023 and more than 5,000 deaths. This disease is known for its high transmissibility and potential for severe illness, which makes people wonder how dengue fever can cause serious consequences in just a few days?
Basic knowledge of dengue fever
Dengue fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus, which is primarily transmitted by female Aedes mosquitoes (primarily Aedes aegypti). Most infected people do not experience obvious symptoms after the initial infection, but when symptoms appear, they usually begin within 3 to 14 days after infection, including high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea and rash. Generally, the recovery period is two to seven days, but in rare cases, the disease can worsen and develop into severe dengue fever, which is life-threatening.
Signs and course of severe dengue fever
About 5% of dengue cases may develop into severe disease, a condition often accompanied by internal bleeding, low platelets, plasma leakage and dangerously low blood pressure.
The clinical course of dengue fever can be divided into three stages: febrile stage, critical stage and convalescent stage. During the fever period, many infected people suffer from body temperatures as high as 40°C and general discomfort. If it enters the critical stage, symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, and difficulty breathing may occur, and may even lead to organ failure and death.
Risk factors for severe dengue
Indicators show that certain groups of people are more at risk for dengue infection. For example, young children and the elderly are more likely to develop severe illness than other age groups. In addition, individuals who have been infected with one serotype are also at risk for severe illness when infected again with a different serotype, which is partly a result of the immune system being affected by the previous infection.
Prevention and control methods
The best way to prevent dengue is to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and take steps to avoid mosquito bites.
Controlling the spread of dengue fever relies heavily on controlling mosquito populations, which includes measures such as removing stagnant water and using insecticides, especially in areas where dengue fever is prevalent. On a personal level, wearing protective clothing and using mosquito repellent are also effective preventive measures.
Vaccine Development
There are currently two dengue vaccines on the market, namely Dengvaxia and Qdenga. These vaccines provide protection for different age groups and medical histories, but all require recipients to know whether they have been infected with the virus in the past to avoid the risk of severe dengue fever.
ConclusionThe rapid progression of dengue fever and its risk of severe illness have given us a deeper understanding of its prevention and treatment. As global climate change and population density increase, the spread of dengue fever is likely to intensify, threatening more and more people. Faced with this situation, can we find effective solutions to meet the challenge of dengue fever?
