Thus, the disease can be considered hyperendemic.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The virus that causes dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) mostly infects children and teenagers, Indonesia’s Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ITAGI) has said.

"(In) most of our cases, (the patients) are under 9 years old," Chairperson of ITAGI Sri Rezeki Hadinegoro informed at the commemoration of ASEAN Dengue Day (ADD), which was accessed virtually from here on Wednesday.

A study of 1,800 children aged 1–18 years in 14 provinces showed that 25 percent of one-year-old children had been exposed to dengue, she noted.

It also found that 50 percent of children aged 5 years and 90 percent of teens aged 18 years had suffered from the disease.

"Thus, the disease can be considered hyperendemic," the ITAGI chairperson said.

Therefore, improving public awareness and understanding regarding the dangers and prevention of DHF is important, she said.

"A disease with non-human transmission is very difficult (to cure),” she added.

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Since the dengue virus is carried and transmitted by mosquitoes, the community must avoid getting bitten by them, she said.

There are three infection phases of the virus, namely the febrile phase, critical phase, and recovery phase, Hadinegoro informed.

In the febrile phase, a patient has sudden high fever that lasts one to three days, which is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, she said.

"If it is not cured (in the febrile phase), it will move to the critical phase," she noted.

In the critical phase, a patient could suffer plasma leakage, a sudden drop in blood pressure and shock, abdominal blood clots, as well as bleeding.

"Hence, the occurrence of the critical phase must be prevented,” the ITAGI chairperson said.

Meanwhile, in the recovery phase, patients regain their consciousness and their heart rate improves.

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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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