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You have heard so much about Dengue, so what is
Dengue Fever?
Dengue Fever (pronounced 'DEN-ghee') is a flu-like viral disease, spread
by the bite of infected, day-biting Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
The mosquito transmits the disease by biting an infected person and then
biting someone else.
This virus has four flavors, called serotypes, which are named 1,2,3 and
4. Getting infected with one serotype does not protect you against the
other serotypes, in fact, getting a second dengue infection, leads to an
even worse infection.
This manifests as either Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
or Dengue Shock Syndrome, which
is a severe, often fatal, complication of dengue. These are particularly
dangerous in children, who suffer the most and who are at the greatest
risk. Still, most cases of dengue are benign (not-serious), ending after
approximately 7 days.
Dengue has a short incubation period - often days, usually less than a
week. The signs and symptoms of dengue include a sudden, rapidly climbing
fever, a severe headache, nausea & vomiting, loss of appetite, rash and
deep muscle and joint pains. The disease is nicknamed 'breakbone fever'
for these last two symptoms. The rash usually shows up 3-4 days after the
start of the symptoms and begins on the torso, spreading out to the face,
arms and legs. The illness can last up to 10 days, but
complete recovery can take as long as a month.
With Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
the blood cells are crippled and bleeding develops - in the gums, the
skin, the intestinal tract.
Bruising can be a sign of bleeding inside the body. Without prompt
treatment, the blood vessels can collapse, causing shock (Dengue Shock
Syndrome). Dengue hemorrhagic fever is fatal in about 5 percent of cases,
mostly among children and young adults.
Dengue is diagnosed by a blood test.
There is no specific treatment for dengue,
no vaccine
and there is no cure, this
leaves us with prevention, the only option.
Prevention centers on
avoiding mosquito bites in areas where dengue occurs or might occur and
eliminating breeding sites.
Unlike the mosquitoes that cause
malaria,
the Aedes mosquito likes to bite
in the morning and afternoons, often indoors or in the shade.
The Aedes mosquito is a day biter, so during daylight hours, in areas
where mosquitoes are present, protect yourself by properly using
anti-mosquito measures.
Avoid mosquito bites
- Use mosquito
repellents on skin and clothing.
- When outdoors during
times that mosquitoes are biting, wear long-sleeved shirts and long
pants tucked into socks.
To keep from over-heating and from aggressive mosquito punctures one
should wear loose-fitting clothes.
- Avoid heavily
populated residential areas.
- When indoors, stay in
air-conditioned or screened areas. Use mosquito nets if sleeping areas are not
screened or air-conditioned.
Most cases happen in urban areas, and usually at altitudes less than 4,500
feet. Aedes mosquitoes like to breed in standing water such as may be
found in empty tires, flower pots, artificial ponds, old
oil drums, and water storage containers close to human dwellings.
etc., especially after rains.
Eliminate mosquito breeding sites in areas
where dengue might occur:
- Eliminate mosquito
breeding sites around homes. Discard items that can collect rain or
run-off water.
- Regularly change the
water in outdoor bird baths and pet and animal water containers.
Persons with dengue fever should rest and
drink plenty of fluids. An infected person cannot spread the infection to
other persons but can be a source of dengue virus for mosquitoes for about
6 days, they should be kept away from mosquitoes for the protection of
others. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is treated by replacing lost fluids. Some
patients need transfusions to control bleeding. |
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