8 CONSEQUENCES OF DENGUE IN HUMANS - ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY - 2025

Some of the consequences of dengue in humans include high fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, and muscle and joint pain.

In some cases, the disease can develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding and low platelet levels; or in shock syndrome, with low blood pressure levels.

Dengue is spread by different species of the Aedes-type mosquito. The virus has five different types; infection of one type usually provides lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Dengue can occur in the form of dengue fever or severe dengue.

There are numerous tests available to confirm the diagnosis. A new dengue vaccine has been approved and is commercially available in some countries

Other prevention methods include reducing mosquito habitat and limiting exposure or avoiding mosquito bites.

Treatment for dengue includes providing fluids orally or intravenously. In more severe cases, blood transfusion may be needed.

Each year, about half a million people require hospitalization 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 feature of dengue is a high fever, potentially over 40 ° C, which can last from 2 to 7 days.

Dengue fever is characterized by a febrile behavior with two spikes. At the beginning of the infection, the patient experiences a high body temperature, which then begins to drop, to suddenly rise 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; generally occurs when the temperature is higher than 37.5 or 38.3 ° C.

This rise in temperature triggers muscle contractions that cause a sensation of cold.

2- Loss of plasma

Dengue virus infection 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 lead to further complications, and even death.

The biggest 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.

Escaping plasma from the circulatory system can cause fluids to collect in body cavities.

Doctors can detect plasma leakage by noting a higher than normal level of red cells and an abnormal level of low protein in the blood.

3- Hemorrhage

Another consequence of severe dengue is severe bleeding. In some cases, stomach and intestinal bleeding can occur that can lead to death.

Patients with dengue fever may have skin hemorrhages (bleeding under the surface of the skin) that appear as red or purple marks on the body.

Dengue fever can also cause bleeding from 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.

Lack of circulation in the blood causes patients to have cold, blue and slimy skin.

Patients experiencing shock may appear restless, and their blood pressure and pulse may not be perceived. Severe dengue can also lead to breathing problems and problems with other organs.

If left untreated, shock can lead to the death of the patient within 24 hours; if treated quickly with intravenous fluid, patients can recover.

5- skin rash

The rash in dengue fever is a scattered maculopapular or confluent macular rash on the face, chest, and flexure surfaces, with undamaged skin spaces. The rash typically begins on day three and persists for two to three days.

Almost half of patients infected with dengue fever develop this characteristic rash.

In children, a second rash may occur, one or two days after the fever stops, lasting from one to five days.

This rash can be similar to measles; it is maculopapular, and does not occur on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. Occasionally this rash flakes off.

6- Guillain-Barré syndrome

This syndrome involves a muscle weakness caused by the immune system that damages the peripheral nervous system.

Initial symptoms typically involve changes in sensation or pain along with muscle weakness, beginning with the feet and hands. This is often spread over the arms and upper body, with both sides involved.

Symptoms develop within hours and can last up to a few weeks. During the acute phase, this disorder can be life threatening.

About 15% of patients require mechanical ventilation as 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 rhythm.

Recovery can take weeks to years; about a third of people experience permanent weakness. Globally, death occurs in 7.5% of those affected.

Although not as common, dengue viral infection has been associated with episodes of this syndrome.

7- Fetal death and premature births

Dengue is especially dangerous for pregnant women because they can pass the virus to their baby during pregnancy or at birth. This can result in fetal death, low birth weight, or premature births.

Additionally, babies infected with dengue are at higher risk of developing a severe case of the disease.

8- Low platelets

T hrombocytopenia (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. Dengue virus causes direct damage to the bone marrow.

Additionally, the virus causes further destruction of platelets. Platelets are also infected by dengue fever, leading to platelet dysfunction and a low platelet count.

References

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2. What is dengue fever? Recovered from nature.com
3. Dengue fever in pregnancy. Recovered from babycenter.com
4. Guillain – Barré syndrome. Recovered from wikipedia.org
5. Dengue and severe dengue (2017). Recovered from who.intl
6. Why do you dengue fever patients have a low count of platelets (2017). Recovered from quora.com
7. Dengue clinical presentation (2017). Recovered from emedicine.medscape.com