PETALING JAYA: Dengue is a disease that should not be taken lightly as it can lead to severe complications and even worse, death.

       Nur Alia, 32, thought she would lose her mother when she developed sepsis (blood infection which could cause organ damage) while hospitalised for 10 days due to haemorrhaging dengue.

       Her mother’s vital organs were also affected and that exacerbated other symptoms which led to brain fog and her losing some of her early memories.

       Following the 2011 incident, her mother, then 57, was forced to quit her job as a part-time nurse and research assistant.

       “When her memory loss was at its worst she was not able to recognise my sister,” the writer said.

       “I am truly grateful that she survived,” she said, though her mother hasn’t regained her early memories until today.

       Nur Alia too was affected with haemorrhaging dengue at the same time but only had mild rashes.

       Shedding light on the dangers of dengue is Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia professor of public health expert, Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh who highlighted that 2.5% of severe dengue cases have led to fatality.

       She explained that dengue can lead to other complications as it may weaken a patient’s immune system making them prone to other bacterial infections and brain fog, especially those with underlying diseases.

       For haemorrhaging dengue, it is more life threatening because patients can suddenly haemorrhage from their mouth or other places due to their low platelet count, she said.

       Platelets are blood cells that help the blood clot. Low platelet counts will cause heavy bleeding.

       Prof Dr Sharifa added that dengue has a high chance of recurring if a former patient is bitten by an Aedes mosquito again.

       “Some former patients may have built a certain immunity level but some may not and they might be affected with severe symptoms.

       “Dengue is a very tricky virus because it can mask itself as other diseases such as a fever and the only way to diagnose dengue is to be tested for it.

       “The symptoms (headache, fever, joint pain, rashes) will be present between two and seven days and for mild cases, patients will recover within the week,” she said.

       However, according to her, there are no specific medications for dengue nor vaccines in Malaysia and for now doctors can only treat its symptoms.

       Meanwhile, according to the Health Ministry on May 17, dengue cases have seen an increase of 51.5% or 1,074 cases in the 19th epidemiological week (May 8 to 14) with nine deaths compared to only 709 cases the week before.