Danker (not his real name) woke up one morning feeling out of sorts. He was feeling sluggish, but he dismissed it as tiredness caused by a new exercise regime.
Once he was done with his chores, he decided to sleep for a while hoping to feel better, but instead woke up with a mild pain behind his forehead and eyes.
He also had a dry cough and sore throat, which immediately made him think he had Covid. Within a few hours he developed a high fever.
His doctor advised both a Covid and dengue fever test. Within 24 hours, the dengue fever test came back positive.
The next few days went by with him experiencing intense fever accompanied by one of the worst headaches he had ever had in his life. Danker battled severe aches and pains, with some nausea. His platelet count also dropped.
With no appetite and dehydration making things worse, he was hospitalised and put on a drip for the next few days. His girlfriend would whip up a vegetable soup, which was the only thing that appealed to his inactive taste buds.
By the seventh day, the effects of the dengue fever began receding. A final blood test indicated a rise in his platelet count, and he was free from danger and discharged from hospital.
Signs and symptoms
Dengue fever affects everyone differently. It is certainly not a disease one would want to get, considering the enormous physical, mental and emotional toll it can take.
Dengue is basically a viral infection with flu-like symptoms, caused by the bite of an Aedes mosquito that has the virus. The infected mosquito deposits the virus on the skin through its saliva while it feeds.
The virus finds its way into the bloodstream and, once it begins circulating, has access to pretty much any part of the body and can cause damage – even death.
The symptoms of dengue fever include a high fever accompanied by headache; muscle, bone, and joint pain; nausea and/or vomiting; pain behind the eyes; swollen glands; and a rash over the body that can disappear and reappear.
While most people recover within a week or two, in some cases it could lead to a severe, life-threatening form of the disease called Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF).
There is no specific treatment for DHF, however, and in most cases, the fever goes away within a few days to a month.
Keeping hydrated is key to dengue treatment, while getting rest and plenty of sleep will help patients recover faster.
Pain relievers may be prescribed if one is experiencing unbearable muscle and joint aches, but aspirin or ibuprofen should be avoided as these could induce bleeding.
Danker is sharing his story so people remember there are other causes of fever and tiredness other than Covid infection. Make sure you see a doctor for a thorough checkup if you feel unwell with a fever.
TELEME Healing Life Stories is a collection of inspirational stories of how ordinary people triumph over their health conditions and recover to lead a healthier life. Email [email protected] to share your story.
Click here to read more health educational articles or download the app to chat with a health practitioner.