Beware of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Anticipating dengue fever, officers carried out fogging at the Deltasari Indah housing complex, Waru sub-district, Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, on Sunday (13/6/2021).

Prolonged rainfall in the middle of the dry season is a fertile opportunity for the dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) to spread. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dengue fever seems to have been left forgotten.

The disease, which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, has plagued the tropics for many years. The disease still exists and is still life-threatening. According to data from the Health Ministry, as of the 27th week of 2021, there were 20,290 cases of DHF with 171 deaths. Last year, in around the same period, there were 71,633 cases with 459 deaths. The number of cases and deaths from dengue has decreased, but it should have been preventable.

The increase in COVID-19 cases has hampered efforts in combating dengue fever. Almost all of the government’s resources, efforts and funds are being used to cope with COVID-19. The activities of jumantik (mosquito larvae controllers) who are in charge of inspecting every house in their respective areas have also been hampered because they have to adhere to health protocols, such maintaining a distance and reducing mobility.

Also read:

> Supporting Health Through Science

> Reorganizing the State

> Jakarta’s Kampungs Join Community Movement to Fight Covid-19

It\'s all about shared awareness. There are a number of ways to take care of our health and the environment. To overcome DHF, every household needs to be disciplined in following the “3M” health protocols, which have been promoted for a long time to prevent mosquito breeding. The 3M health protocols are regularly cleaning and closing water reservoirs, burying or recycling used goods that can hold water and using larvicides, keeping fish that eat mosquito larvae or planting mosquito repelling plants. This method is also effective in preventing chikungunya disease, which is transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

If detection is late or if someone has both COVID-19 and DHF, the condition is difficult to overcome.

In public facilities, the government can implement 3M-plus in collaboration with the community through youth organizations, family welfare movements (PKK), Posyandu (integrated health services post) or cleaning service. Fumigation is unreliable because it is only effective for a few minutes. After the pesticide residue is gone, the mosquitoes that come later are still able to transmit the dengue virus. DHF control is needed, considering that the initial symptoms of DHF and COVID-19 are similar, namely fever. However, the course of the disease and its treatment are different. If detection is late or if someone has both COVID-19 and DHF, the condition is difficult to overcome.

KOMPAS/DEONISIA ARLINTA

A patient with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Prof. Dr. WZ Johannes Kupang Regional General Hospital, East Nusa Tenggara, on Monday (9/3/2020).

Generally, DHF patients experience a high fever accompanied by a headache. Most COVID-19 patients also experience fever, headaches, coughing and respiratory problems. In the early stage of infection, symptoms are not easy to distinguish. The proper treatment will determine the course of the disease.

That was reported by a Singaporean research team, Gabriel Yan and colleagues, in the Lancet journal on March 4, 2020. They described two cases of patients whose serological test results were positive for dengue fever. The two patients did not have a history of travel abroad. A few days later, the symptoms got worse and led to COVID-19, so the patients were tested and confirmed positive for COVID-19. Initial samples of both patients were tested again: the results were negative for dengue fever.

In Indonesia, the coinfection of DHF and COVID-19 is not uncommon in DHF patients. Let\'s apply the 6M health protocols together with 3M, plus the prevention of DHF, so that we can get through the pandemic storm.

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).