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DENGUE

Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted disease that affects tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Flu-like symptoms and a high temperature are signs of mild dengue fever. The severe variety of dengue fever, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, can result in fatalities as well as significant bleeding, a sharp drop in blood pressure, and shock.

Every year, dengue infections affect millions of people globally. India is one of the countries where dengue fever is most prevalent.

Avoiding mosquito bites and taking measures to minimise the mosquito population are the best approaches to prevent illness in places where dengue fever is common.

Symptoms

Many persons may not exhibit any symptoms or signs of dengue infection.

When symptoms do occur, they may be mistaken for other illnesses — such as the flu — and usually begin 4 to 10 days after you are bitten by an infected mosquito.

Dengue fever causes a high fever — 104 F (40 C) — and any of the following signs and symptoms:

• Headache
• Muscle, bone, or joint pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Eye pain
• Swollen glands
• Rash

Most people recover within a week or so. In some cases, symptoms worsen and can become life-threatening. This is called severe dengue, dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

Severe dengue happens when your blood vessels become damaged and leaky. And the number of clot-forming cells, known as platelets in your bloodstream drops. This can lead to shock, internal bleeding, organ failure, and even death.

Warning signs of severe dengue fever — which is a life-threatening emergency — can develop quickly. The warning signs usually begin the first day or two after your fever goes away, and may include:

• Severe stomach pain
• Constant vomiting
• Bleeding from the nose or gums
• Blood in the urine, stools, or vomits
• Bleeding under the skin that may resemble bruising
• Rapid or difficulty in breathing;
• Fatigue
• Irritability or restlessness

When to see a doctor

Severe dengue fever is a life-threatening medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention if you’ve recently visited an area in which dengue fever is known to occur, you have had a fever and you develop any of the warning signs. Warning signs include severe stomach pain, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or blood in your nose, gums, vomit or stools.

Causes

Dengue fever is caused by any one of four types of dengue viruses. You can’t get dengue fever from being around an infected person. Instead, dengue fever is spread through mosquito bites.

The two types of mosquitoes that most often spread the dengue viruses are common both in and around human lodgings. When a mosquito bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mosquito. Then, when the infected mosquito bites another person, the virus enters that person’s bloodstream and causes an infection.

Risk factors

You have a greater risk of developing dengue fever or a more severe form of the disease if:

You live or travel in tropical areas. Being in tropical and subtropical areas increases your risk of exposure to the virus that causes dengue fever. Especially high-risk areas include Southeast Asia, the western Pacific islands, Latin America and Africa.

You have had dengue fever in the past. Previous infection with a dengue fever virus increases your risk of severe symptoms if you get dengue fever again.

Complications

Internal bleeding and organ damage are potential effects of severe dengue infection. Shock can result from dangerously low blood pressure. Severe dengue illness occasionally results in fatalities.

Women who get dengue fever during pregnancy may be able to spread the virus to the baby during childbirth. Additionally, babies of women who get dengue fever during pregnancy have a higher risk of pre-term birth, low birth weight or fetal distress.

Prevention

Vaccine

In areas of the world where dengue fever is common, one dengue fever vaccine is approved for people ages 9 to 45. The vaccine is given in three doses over the course of 12 months.

Prevent mosquito bites

The World Health Organization stresses that the vaccine is not an effective tool on its own to reduce dengue fever in areas where the illness is common. Preventing mosquito bites and controlling the mosquito population are still the main methods for preventing the spread of dengue fever.

These recommendations may help lower your risk of mosquito bites:

• Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened housing.The mosquitoes that carry the dengue viruses are most active from dawn to dusk, but they can also bite at night.
• Wear protective clothing.When you go into mosquito-infested areas, wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and shoes.
• Use mosquito repellent.It can be applied to your clothing, shoes, camping gear and bed netting.
• Reduce mosquito habitat.The mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus typically live in and around houses, breeding in standing water that can collect in such things as used automobile tires. You can help lower mosquito populations by eliminating habitats where they lay their eggs. At least once a week, empty and clean containers that hold standing water, such as planting containers, animal dishes and flower vases. Keep standing water containers covered between cleanings.