DENGUE FEVER

DENGUE FEVER
-Dr Shawn Serrao

INTRODUCTION

It’s the monsoon season and it’s been pouring quite a lot lately. For us doctors, what better way to describe a rainy day in the hospital other than a surge of patients suffering from dengue? Apart from the common cold, cough and running nose, dengue seems to have gone up the ladder nowadays and has become more prevalent than ever.

Dengue fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses. It is found more in the tropical and sub-tropical climates regions. Approximately 2.5 billion people live in dengue-risk regions with about 100 million new cases each year worldwide. Medical records have shown that the Dengue fever has been around since as early as 1779. However, details on the transmission and the cause of the diseases came to light only in the 20th century. It causes a wide spectrum of illness from mild asymptomatic illness to severe fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS).

ETIOLOGY

There the dengue virus is spread by mosquitos, mainly the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. These mosquitos are known to bite early in the morning and late in the night. Infections can be acquired by a single bite. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in their blood. It can’t be spread directly from one person to another person.

CLINICAL FEATURES

Symptoms, which usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days. Many people, especially children and teens, may experience no signs or symptoms during a mild case of dengue fever. When symptoms occur , Dengue fever causes a high fever — 104 F degrees — and at least two of the following symptoms: Headache,Muscle, bone and joint ,pain,Nausea,Vomiting,Pain behind the eyes,Swollen glands,Rash.In some cases, symptoms worsen and can become life-threatening. Blood vessels often become damaged and leaky. And the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your bloodstream drops. This can cause a severe form of dengue fever, called dengue haemorrhagic fever, severe dengue or dengue shock syndrome.

Signs and symptoms of dengue haemorrhagic fever or severe dengue — a life-threatening emergency — include: Severe abdominal pain, Persistent vomiting, Bleeding from your gums or nose, Blood in your urine, stools or vomit, Bleeding under the skin, which might look like bruising, Difficult or rapid breathing, Cold or clammy skin (shock),Fatigue, Irritability or restlessness.

TREATMENT

There is no specific medicine to treat dengue infection. If you think you may have dengue fever, you should use pain relievers with acetaminophen/paracetamol and avoid medicines with aspirin, which could worsen bleeding. You should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and see your doctor. If you start to feel worse in the first 24 hours after your fever goes down, you should get to a hospital immediately to confirm if you are suffering from dengue or not and also  to be checked for complications.

PREVENTION

The best way to prevent the disease is to prevent bites by infected mosquitoes these tips may help reduce your risk of mosquito bites:

Stay in 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. Permethrin can be applied to your clothing, shoes, camping gear and bed netting. For your skin, use a repellent containing at least a 10 percent concentration of DEET.

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.