As Bangladesh’s dengue situation worsens nationwide, public anxiety is rising. A second dengue infection is far riskier than a first. It is therefore essential at this time to be aware of the four dengue serotypes and the dangers of a second infection.
What are serotypes, and where does the risk lie?
The dengue virus has four distinct types, or serotypes — DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. A person infected with one serotype develops lifelong immunity to that specific type only — meaning they will not be infected again by the same serotype. However, they can still be infected again by any of the other three. DEN-2 has been the dominant serotype in the country for the past four years, but this year DEN-3 has been detected in Dhaka and several other parts of the country.
Why a second infection is dangerous
A first dengue infection is usually mild, and patients typically recover with proper rest. But when someone is infected a second time with a different serotype, a process called antibody-dependent enhancement can make the virus more potent in the body. This can lead to severe complications such as hemorrhagic dengue or dengue shock syndrome. Blood platelet counts can drop rapidly, and internal bleeding can begin — sharply raising the risk of death compared with a first infection.
In a second infection, patients may experience high fever along with severe body aches, severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the gums or nose, breathing difficulty, and extreme fatigue.
Prevention
Within the first 24 to 48 hours of fever onset, an NS1 test and a CBC blood test should be done on a doctor’s advice. Under no circumstances should medicines other than paracetamol — such as aspirin, ibuprofen or diclofenac — be taken for fever or body aches, as these increase the risk of bleeding. Patients should drink plenty of water, oral saline, coconut water and other nutritious fluids.
Keep the area around the home clean. Make sure water does not collect in flower pots, tires or coconut shells. Always use a mosquito net while sleeping, day or night. Awareness and prompt medical attention remain the only way to guard against a second dengue infection.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report