Prevent dangerous complications of dengue fever

Patient NVK (male, 82 years old, Thai Binh ) was admitted to the Emergency Department, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, on the 6th day of dengue fever. Initially, he only had a mild fever and fatigue, but quickly developed serious symptoms such as a high fever of 39°C, a deep drop in platelets to only 7 G/L (21 times lower than normal), and gastrointestinal bleeding causing black stools.

After being admitted to the hospital, he was prescribed a platelet transfusion to aid in blood clotting. However, the bleeding in the muscle tissue in the chest and left arm caused the patient to have severe pain, muscle stiffness and bruising. The patient even lost half of his blood volume, and his hemoglobin (Hgb) index dropped sharply from 140 T/L to 70 T/L, pushing him into a critical condition.

After 9 days of active treatment with blood products, the patient's platelet count increased to 57 G/L, and the gastrointestinal bleeding temporarily stabilized.

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However, doctors still warn of the risk of bleeding in the muscles because this complication is difficult to control with conventional measures. After half a month of treatment, the patient was discharged from the hospital, but this case is a warning about the danger of dengue fever and the need for timely detection and treatment.

According to the Center for Tropical Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, recently, the number of dengue fever patients hospitalized has increased, especially in suburban areas of Hanoi such as Hoai Duc, Dan Phuong, Phuc Tho, and neighboring provinces such as Hai Phong, Hai Duong , Thai Binh.

A male patient (25 years old, Hoang Mai, Hanoi ) was hospitalized after 5 days of high fever, diagnosed with dengue fever with severe liver failure and rapid platelet decline. A female patient (62 years old, Dan Phuong, Hanoi), with type 2 dengue fever, worsened with multiple organ failure, required mechanical ventilation, continuous blood filtration but the prognosis was critical.

Associate Professor, Dr. Do Duy Cuong, Director of the Center for Tropical Diseases, said that Dengue fever is tending to occur earlier than every year and the severity is increasing.

Dengue fever is an infectious disease caused by the Dengue virus, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The disease progresses through three stages:

Fever stage: High fever, muscle and joint pain, mild bleeding, decreased platelets.

Dangerous phase: From day 3 to day 7, plasma leakage, respiratory failure, internal bleeding, risk of shock and multiple organ failure appear.

Recovery phase: From day 7 to 10, platelets increase and the patient gradually stabilizes.

People with underlying medical conditions, especially the elderly, are at higher risk of complications such as severe bleeding, liver failure, kidney failure, or multiple organ failure. In particular, improper use of medications, such as Aspirin or Ibuprofen, can make bleeding worse.

Prevention involves eliminating stagnant water, treating dark, damp areas, and using mosquito nets when sleeping, so early recognition of symptoms and prompt treatment are important to minimize the risk of complications.

Associate Professor, Dr. Do Duy Cuong emphasized that when experiencing symptoms of sudden high fever, body aches, and abnormal bleeding, patients should go to a medical facility for proper diagnosis and treatment. Timely detection and treatment can save the patient’s life and limit the risk of serious complications.”