Dengue fever is a disease caused by the bite of a mosquito carrying the virus Dengue. This disease causes symptoms of high fever and flu. If not treated properly, dengue fever is life-threatening.
Dengue fever is a disease with the number of cases that tends to increase every year. According to data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia in 2020, there were 95,893 cases of dengue fever throughout Indonesia, with 661 of them ending in death.
Dengue fever is divided into 2 types, namely dengue fever (Dengue Fever) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever). The difference between the two types of dengue fever is the presence of blood vessel leakage in dengue hemorrhagic fever, whereas in dengue fever it is not.
Dengue fever generally attacks children aged less than 15 years, but can also occur in adults.
Dengue Fever Symptoms and Complications
The most common symptoms of dengue fever are fever accompanied by headache, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. This condition can also be characterized by a red rash, pain behind the eyes, muscle pain, and swelling of the lymph nodes.
Patients with dengue fever generally recover about 1 week later. However, in some cases, the patient's condition can worsen and can end in shock.
Dengue Fever Treatment and Prevention
Treatment of dengue fever aims to relieve symptoms and avoid complications. Actions that can be taken by patients are adequate rest and maintain a balance of body fluids by drinking lots of water. Patients can also take fever-reducing drugs, such as paracetamol.
The risk of dengue fever can be avoided by administering the dengue vaccine. In addition, mosquito nest eradication activities (PSN) must be carried out periodically. The goal is to create a clean environment free from mosquitoes that cause dengue fever.