Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by members of the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. Humans can become infected after an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito takes a blood meal and allows the virus to enter the human bloodstream. These mosquitoes usually bite during the day and are able to take several blood meals in a single breeding cycle, so can infect several individuals. A pregnant woman can also get this infection through the same route and can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy or around the time of childbirth.Also Read – Follow these home remedies and yoga asanas to cure dengue
symptoms
The most prominent symptoms are similar to those of any non-pregnant woman with dengue. They may differ from high-grade fever with body aches, myalgias, joint pains, pain behind the eyes, headache, etc. Patients may experience vomiting, nausea, sore throat, rash, and a generally flushed skin. Also Read – Alert: 7,128 dengue cases in Delhi so far in 2021; 1,851 last week alone. Details here
Most patients settle down and do not progress to complications, but a small proportion of patients may develop severe dengue manifestations. Those who develop significant fluid collection or bleeding manifestations or multiple organ involvement are classified as critical stage dengue. During this stage, they are likely to develop further complications, so, it is important to recognize the warning signs at this point. They may also have low blood pressure, liver problems, bleeding from various sites and brain involvement. Also Read – Dengue Outbreak: Dengue cases among children are increasing at an alarming rate, here are the causes and precautionary measures | Watch the video
Some patients have cold extremities and may present in a confused state with slurred speech, increased lethargy, persistent vomiting, and abdominal pain. Although dengue virus can be transmitted to the baby during pregnancy or childbirth, it may not lead to adverse fetal outcomes. Some studies suggest that if the mother is infected with dengue during birth, it rarely leads to low birth weight and pre-term birth of the baby.
When is the right time to consult a doctor?
Infected pregnant women should seek medical advice if they test positive for dengue. If diagnosed late at a critical stage, it can affect pregnancy and fetal outcomes. Identifying the virus at the earliest and seeking timely medical help can prevent all adverse consequences and keep the baby and mother safe.
treatment
Treatment and outcomes also remain similar to non-pregnant women. Some features of dengue may overlap with clinical or laboratory features of better-recognized conditions in pregnancy leading to delayed diagnosis. And as they say, prevention is better than cure, so preventing mosquito bites by wearing full-sleeved clothing, using mosquito repellent, and preventing mosquito breeding are the backbone of disease prevention.
Pregnant women diagnosed with dengue should seek medical advice without further delay.
(With inputs from Dr. Neha Mishra, Consultant – Infectious Diseases, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road)
