Thailand reports 2-fold increase in dengue
The Thailand Bureau of Epidemiology reports 13,347 total dengue fever cases from January 1 to February 14. This is a more than 2-fold increase in cases compared to the same period in 2023.
Of the 13,347 total cases, 3,633 were dengue hemorrhagic fever and 108 were classified as dengue shock syndrome.
To date, 11 dengue related fatalities have been reported.
Half the cases were reported in people ages 5 to 24. Most deaths were in those 65 and older.
Director-general of the Disease Control Department, Dr. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, said that the best preventive measure now is for everyone, including those who have already been bitten, to apply mosquito repellents, to protect them from being bitten by mosquitoes, which will bite other people and spread the disease.
He also warned patients not to take anti-pyretic medicines, such as aspirin, without consulting a doctor first, because the medicine can increase internal bleeding.
In 2023, Thailand reported 159,747 total dengue cases and 179 deaths.
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Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. There are four closely related but antigenically different serotypes of the virus that can cause dengue (DEN1, DEN 2, DEN 3, DEN 4).
Dengue Fever (DF) – marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body (including nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising).Dengue has a wide spectrum of infection outcome (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Symptomatic illness can vary from dengue fever (DF) to the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) – is a more severe form, seen only in a small proportion of those infected. DHF is a stereotypic illness characterized by 3 phases; febrile phase with high continuous fever usually lasting for less than 7 days; critical phase (plasma leaking) lasting 1-2 days usually apparent when fever comes down, leading to shock if not detected and treated early; convalescence phase lasting 2-5 days with improvement of appetite, bradycardia (slow heart rate), convalescent rash (white patches in red background), often accompanied by generalized itching (more intense in palms and soles), and diuresis (increase urine output).
Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) — Shock syndrome is a dangerous complication of dengue infection and is associated with high mortality. Severe dengue occurs as a result of secondary infection with a different virus serotype. Increased vascular permeability, together with myocardial dysfunction and dehydration, contribute to the development of shock, with resultant multiorgan failure.