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Foodieaty, As we all know, dengue fever is a disease caused by the bite of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. This disease can be fatal if treatment is not received immediately. However, the development of dengue fever occurs in three phases, namely the fever, critical, and recovery phases.

So, it is important to know more about the critical phase so that you can carry out appropriate treatment to prevent complications that can be life-threatening from occurring.

Get to know more about the critical phase of dengue fever

Dengue fever begins suddenly after an incubation period of 5–7 days, and its development occurs in 3 phases, namely:

Fever Phase (febrile phase)

The initial phase of dengue fever is characterized by symptoms of high fever, which can reach up to 40 degrees Celsius for 2-7 days. Apart from that, sufferers can also experience several other symptoms, such as muscle, joint, and bone pain, headaches, sore throat, nausea, and red spots appearing on the skin.

In this phase, the doctor will monitor the number of platelets (blood platelets) of the sufferer because usually, the number of platelets will decrease drastically to less than 100,000/microliter of blood. This decline can occur quickly, namely 2-3 days.

Be careful, dengue fever can also become severe at the end of the fever phase, which is characterized by symptoms such as continuous vomiting, severe stomach pain, fluid accumulation, difficulty breathing, lethargy or restlessness, and an enlarged liver. This condition is a serious condition that requires emergency medical treatment.

Critical Phase (critical phase)

In the critical phase, the sufferer's high fever will gradually subside. Most sufferers think they have recovered, even though a decrease in body temperature is not a sign of recovery. On the contrary, sufferers are actually entering the most dangerous period, where life-threatening complications can occur.

The critical phase is the period when the blood vessels leak blood plasma, the effect of which causes signs of bleeding on the skin and other organs, for example, nosebleeds and gastrointestinal bleeding. This is what actually causes body temperature to decrease. Discharge of red spots is one of the typical symptoms of the critical phase.

The critical phase of dengue fever can start between 3-7 days after the fever phase and lasts for 24-48 hours. In this phase, body fluids need to be monitored closely so that there is no shortage or excess.

In this phase, sufferers need to get medical treatment as quickly as possible. The reason is sufferers are at risk of experiencing shock or a drastic drop in blood pressure, as well as bleeding, which can lead to death if not treated immediately.

Recovery Phase

The recovery phase begins 48–72 hours after the critical phase. In this phase, the sufferer's condition will improve, and the hemodynamic status (blood flow in the body's circulatory system) will also stabilize. A fluid from the blood vessels will also return to the blood vessels. That is why keeping the sufferer's body fluids from excessive is very important. This is because excess fluid in the blood vessels can cause heart failure and pulmonary edema, which can lead to death.

In the recovery phase, the sufferer's platelet levels will also increase rapidly until they reach 150,000/microliter of blood, returning to normal levels.

Dengue Fever Treatment

Actually, there is no specific treatment to treat dengue fever. Sufferers are only advised to maintain good fluid intake and get plenty of rest. Sufferers should also avoid medication, for example, aspirin or any medication that contains aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) because they have anticoagulant properties.

Fever symptoms can be treated by consuming acetaminophen or fever-reducing medication prescribed by a doctor.

So, that's an explanation of the critical phase of dengue fever. Suppose you experience a high fever, which is suspected to be a symptom of dengue fever. In that case, you should immediately consult a doctor. To carry out an examination, you can also make a reservation with a doctor at the hospital of your choice.

Reference:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed 2020. Dengue.