NERS NEWS — Nursing Profession students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, conducted a health education activity on “Early Detection of Dengue Fever: Recognize the Symptoms, Prevent the Danger” for patients, visitors, and patients’ families in the Outpatient Waiting Room of Kenjeran Community Health Center, Surabaya.
The activity, conducted by Group 2, was part of the Health Promotion activity during the clinical practice of the Nursing Profession Program at the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga. The education was delivered through lectures and interactive discussions using posters and leaflets as educational media.
The activity aimed to increase public understanding of dengue fever, particularly in recognizing its early signs and symptoms and identifying warning signs that require immediate medical attention. Participants were also educated about dengue prevention through Mosquito Nest Eradication (PSN), the 3M Plus strategy, and Clean and Healthy Living Behaviors (PHBS).
During the session, the students explained that dengue fever is an infectious disease caused by the dengue virus and transmitted through the bites of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Participants were introduced to various early symptoms, including sudden high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting, rashes or reddish spots, and weakness.
In addition to recognizing early symptoms, participants received information about dengue warning signs that require immediate medical attention. These include severe and persistent abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the gums or nose, vomiting blood or passing black stools, severe weakness or restlessness, cold hands and feet, decreased consciousness, and difficulty breathing.
The students emphasized that early detection is essential to facilitate timely diagnosis and monitoring while preventing complications. Dengue fever that is not treated promptly can lead to serious conditions such as dengue shock, severe bleeding, impaired liver function, kidney dysfunction, cardiac complications, and even death.
During the prevention session, participants were encouraged to implement 3M Plus as an effort to break the chain of dengue transmission. The 3M measures include regularly draining water containers, tightly covering water storage containers, and recycling or reusing discarded items that may become mosquito breeding sites. The Plus measures include using mosquito repellent or lotion, installing window screens, using mosquito nets, keeping larva-eating fish, conducting regular mosquito-larvae inspections, and maintaining environmental cleanliness.
The activity was conducted interactively, allowing participants to ask questions and share their understanding of dengue fever. Through this education, the students hoped that the community would not only be able to recognize dengue symptoms early but also develop awareness of the importance of carrying out preventive measures independently and collectively within their neighborhoods.
This health education activity represents one of the contributions of Nursing Profession students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, to improving public health literacy and supporting promotive and preventive efforts at the primary healthcare level.
Writer: Ilma Amalia Kartika
