• Cases near 90,000

The critical stage of dengue fever begins when plasma starts leaking from blood vessels, usually around the third or fourth day of the illness, and careful management of fluid intake is essential to prevent complications, Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) Dr Kapila Kannangara said.

Responding to questions about the impact of the dengue virus on the human body, he told The Daily Morning yesterday (9) that dengue was generally a week-long illness and that complications affecting other organs could occur when the disease became severe during the critical stage.He stressed that plasma leakage should not be confused with bleeding. “When the leaking starts, plasma goes out of the blood vessels, creating a temporary dehydration situation,” he explained.

According to Dr Kannangara, careful observation of dengue patients is therefore important during this stage, as doctors need to monitor factors such as the patient’s heart rate, breathing and urine output and adjust fluid intake according to the severity of the condition.He said dengue treatment mainly involved maintaining a balance between the amount of fluid taken in and the amount of fluid being lost.

Dr Kannangara warned that insufficient fluid could lead to dehydration, while giving too much fluid could also cause complications. Once the leakage stops, the plasma returns to the blood vessels, and excessive fluids given during the earlier stage could result in fluid overload, affecting the heart and lungs.

However, he stressed that not all dengue patients develop plasma leakage, with around 80 per cent recovering without entering the critical stage.He said patients who develop complications during the critical stage could experience symptoms such as breathlessness, dizziness or faintness, reduced urine output and palpitations.Dr Kannangara also urged dengue patients to take adequate rest after recovering from the illness and avoid strenuous physical activity for around two to three weeks.

He said complications following dengue could vary depending on a person’s health and other existing conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and liver disease. Meanwhile, the total number of dengue cases in the country had risen to 89,033, while the dengue death toll had increased to 64 by midnight on 7 August, according to the NDCU’s NaDSys surveillance system.