When dengue infection becomes more severe, it can develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, which can be fatal.
Since there are four different types of dengue virus, a person can be infected with any or all of these viruses. Once you have been infected with a serotype virus, you may develop immunity against it, but you remain at risk of contracting other strains. That said, studies suggest that being infected with different dengue strains can put a person at risk for dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Read more: Dengue hemorrhagic fever: all you need to know about this rare complication
If and when you develop dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), your body may go into shock. Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) is the final stage of a severe dengue infection that can result in excessive bleeding, circulatory system failure, fluid accumulation, and more. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, headache, frequent vomiting, bleeding under the skin, and more.
Plasma leakage is also a difference between mild and severe dengue. It occurs when a protein-rich, fluid component of the blood leaks out of the blood vessels, causing the body to go into shock.
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