What Is the Dengue Virus?
3. What Are the Risk Factors for Severe Dengue?
Severe dengue or dengue hemorrhagic fever occurs when the disease progresses to the point that the body’s blood clotting mechanism begins to break down. This causes thinning of the blood, which can quickly lead to internal bleeding. This results in the severe symptoms described above and is why this form of dengue is called hemorrhagic.
Pregnant women and infants are more likely to get a severe case of dengue. Also, anyone who has been infected with dengue once before is considerably more likely to get a severe case if they are infected again. Overall, about one in 20 people who get dengue end up with the severe form. Those at the highest risk should avoid traveling in areas with current outbreaks.
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