An endemic disease in India, dengue offers a major health risk since, unlike Chikungunya, a single infection does not confer lifetime protection. Dengue, which is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, can result in serious side effects like dengue hemorrhagic fever. The disease’s severe symptoms are sometimes referred to as “bone-breaking” because of how painful they are. Internal organ bleeding is a complication of this illness that can be fatal if left untreated.
The long-term impacts of dengue have not gotten as much attention as the long-term COVID and its effects on the body. But a new study has revealed the serious, long-lasting effects of dengue on the human heart. Researchers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, found that compared to COVID-19 patients, dengue survivors had a noticeably increased incidence of heart problems.
According to the study, those who survive a dengue infection within a year are 55% more likely to develop heart-related problems. These side effects include blood clots, heart disease, and irregular heartbeats—issues that are also present in COVID-19 patients. The study, which was published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, examined 1,248,326 people who had COVID-19 and 11,707 people who had dengue between July 2021 and October 2022. For up to 300 days following infection, these patients were observed by researchers to evaluate their health results.
The long-term effects of dengue are extensive and go beyond heart problems. Serious illnesses like dengue hemorrhagic fever, which causes bleeding issues and low platelet counts and raises the possibility of organ damage, can be brought on by it. Dengue shock syndrome, which is characterized by a sudden drop in blood pressure and shock, may strike certain people. Another typical long-term impact is persistent weariness, which is commonly referred to as “post-dengue fatigue syndrome,” along with muscle and joint discomfort. In addition, severe cases may result in complications like liver damage, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), and neurological problems.
In addition, the NTU researchers discovered that compared to COVID-19 patients, dengue patients had a 213% higher chance of memory or cognitive impairments and a 198% higher risk of mobility abnormalities. In order to address long-term health hazards and guarantee improved patient management, these findings highlight the necessity of increased awareness and focused interventions for dengue survivors.
This study calls attention to the important but underreported long-term impacts of dengue and urges medical personnel to treat and monitor dengue survivors with caution.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
