Dengue fever

         The Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, has forecasted based on epidemiological principles that in 2023, Thailand is expected to see an increased outbreak of Dengue Fever, following the cyclical pattern of the disease. From January 1 to June 8, 2023, there have been 19,503 reported cases of Dengue Fever, with an incidence rate of 29.47 per 100,000 population, and 17 deaths. The number of cases in 2023 is 3.8 times higher than the same period in 2022. The age group with the highest incidence rate is 5-14 years, followed by 15-24 years. The provinces with the highest incidence rates in the past month are Trat, Nan, Chanthaburi, Mae Hong Son, and Satun, respectively.

Dengue Fever is a public health issue caused by infection with the dengue virus, which has four strains and is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. The key symptoms of the disease include high fever, bleeding, and if not promptly treated, can lead to shock, which may result in death. It is therefore crucial to closely monitor the disease and provide appropriate treatment, especially for those who develop shock.

Symptoms of Dengue Fever

Dengue Fever symptoms can be divided into three stages:

Initial Stage: In this stage, patients experience high fever for about 5-7 days, along with muscle pain, rash, or red spots on the body, arms, and legs. Some may lose appetite and experience nausea and vomiting.

Critical Stage: This stage is the most dangerous. Patients may feel fatigued, have reduced urination, experience abdominal pain, especially under the right ribcage, and exhibit abnormal bleeding such as nosebleeds, vomiting blood, or passing black stools. During this stage, fever decreases, hands and feet become cold, blood pressure drops, and shock, potentially leading to death, can occur.

Recovery Stage: In this stage, patients begin to improve. Blood pressure stabilizes, urination increases, appetite returns, abdominal pain and bloating decrease, and patients feel more energetic. The total duration of Dengue Fever typically lasts about 7-10 days.

Treatment for Dengue Fever

Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment for Dengue Fever. Therefore, treatment focuses on managing symptoms. Fever can be reduced with paracetamol and tepid sponging, but other fever-reducing medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen should be avoided.

Bringing patients to a doctor promptly for proper diagnosis is crucial, especially in the early stages, so that close monitoring can be provided during the critical stage to prevent shock.

How to Prevent Dengue Fever

Since there is no vaccine that can directly treat Dengue Fever, prevention measures include:

• Protect Yourself: Wear long-sleeved clothing, sleep in rooms with mosquito nets or screens, and use mosquito repellent on the skin.
• Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sites: Always cover water storage containers, change the water in vases or flower pots every 7 days, and spray chemicals or insecticides to kill adult mosquitoes.
• Dengue Vaccine: Vaccination against Dengue Fever is recommended for those who have previously contracted the disease, to prevent recurrence, which will reduce severity and be more effective.