ABOUT THE DISEASE

Dengue is transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquito infected with one of the four dengue virus serotypes. The symptoms appear 3-14 days after the infective bite and can affect anyone including infants, children and adults. The common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains and skin rash. There is still no vaccine for dengue and the only way to reduce infections is to improve hygiene levels so as to prevent mosquito-bites and prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Victims of dengue often have contortions due to the intense joint and muscle pain, hence also known as breakbone fever.

SYMPTOMS

• • High grade Fever, as 106° F
• • Headaches
• • Muscle, bone and joint pain
• • Pain behind eyes
• • Widespread rash
• • Nausea and vomiting
• • Minor bleeding from gums or nose.

Most people recover within a week or so. In severe cases, symptoms worsen, blood vessels often become damaged and leaky and platelets in the bloodstream drop. This can cause:

• • Bleeding from nose and mouth
• • Severe abdominal pain
• • Persistent vomiting
• • Bleeding under the skin, which might look like bruising
• • Problems with lungs, liver and heart

CAUSES

Dengue fever is caused by any one of four dengue viruses spread by mosquitoes that thrive in and near human lodgings. It is usually transmitted by an Aedes mosquito that is infected with a dengue virus. When a mosquito bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mosquito. When the infected mosquito then bites another person, the virus enters that person`s bloodstream. It is not transmitted directly from person-to-person. The risk of developing severe dengue fever, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, increases if anyone is infected a second, third or fourth time.

DIAGNOSIS

- Physical examination
- Complete Blood Count
- ELISA test for dengue Ag
- PCR for detecting viral DNA
- Serum IgG and IgM test

TREATMENT METHODS

There is no specific treatment for the condition. The patient should take rest, drink plenty of fluids and reduce fever by drugs like paracetamol. Drugs like Aspirin or ibuprofen should be avoided as they can increase the risk of bleeding. Seek medical advise if symptoms are severe. Platelet transfusion is advised to patients with active bleeding/platelet count below 10,000/cu mm.

As dengue spreads through mosquito bites, prevention through clothing, mosquito repellent, and netting is helpful. Breeding of mosquitoes should also be prevented by emptying and cleaning or covering any standing water that can be mosquito-breeding sites in the local residence (such as water storage tanks, discarded tyres, or flowerpot trays).

You may also like to learn about:

Bleeding disorder
Fever
Headache
Joint disorders
Nausea and Vomiting
Rashes