Dengue, known as “break-bone fever”, initially manifests itself with intense symptoms that can knock the patient down. To the CNN Vital SignsEsper Kallás, infectious disease specialist and director of the Butantan Institute, explained that the first signs include high fever, severe muscle pain, extreme tiredness and general malaise.
As the disease progresses, red spots may appear on the body, often confused with allergies. Although acute symptoms usually improve after a week, discomfort may persist for up to two additional weeks.
Warning signs and serious cases
Esper Kallás warns that a small percentage of cases may develop into the disease. “Firstly, there are warning signs of dengue fever, bleeding from small surfaces, stomach pain that doesn’t go away, persistent vomiting and dehydration”, he explains.
When these warning signs appear, some patients may experience extensive bleeding, a drop in blood pressure, and shock. “Although it is a small percentage of the number of cases, when you have a disease that infects millions, this small percentage becomes a very large number”, highlights Kallás.
Adequate treatment and essential care
You should focus on relieving symptoms and, above all, hydration. The specialist recommends the use of medications such as paracetamol or dipyrone to control fever and pain, avoiding anti-inflammatories, as per guidance from the Ministry of Health.
“Hydration is the most important measure. What we tell everyone: make the pee clear, because it means that the liquid is going in and out of the body in good quantities”, advises Kallás. Furthermore, it is essential to seek immediate medical assistance if any warning signs appear.
The specialist’s advice is clear: do not self-medicate and carefully observe the evolution of symptoms. When faced with signs such as bleeding, persistent vomiting or severe abdominal pain, the recommendation is to seek medical attention without delay, as rapid intervention can be decisive in avoiding serious complications.
