Dengue Fever

        Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is a disease caused by viruses that are transmitted to people by mosquitoes. Dengue fever usually causes fever (high, about 104 F-105 F), skin rash and pain (headaches and often severe muscle and joint pains). The disease has also been termed "breakbone" or "dandy fever" because the unusually severe muscle and joint pains can make people assume distorted body positions or exaggerated walking movements in an effort to reduce their pain.

Dengue fever is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas.

Dengue fever is characterized by the rapid development of a fever that may last from five to seven days with intense headache, joint and muscle pain and a rash. The rash develops on the feet or legs three to four days after the beginning of the fever. The hemorrhagic form of dengue fever is more severe and associated with loss of appetite, vomiting, high fever, headache and abdominal pain. Shock and circulatory failure may occur. Untreated hemorrhagic dengue results in death in up to 50 percent of cases.

There is no drug for dengue

To prevention dengue fever, you must prevent the breeding of its carrier, the Asedes mosquitoes. Asedes mosquitoes are identified by the black and white stripes on their body. You can get rid of the Asedes mosquitoby frequently checking and removing stagnant water in your home.

Dengue has become a worldwide problem since the Second World War and is endemic in more than 110 countries. Apart from eliminating the mosquitoes, work is ongoing on a vaccine, as well as medication targeted directly at the virus.

Treatment

Treatment of acute dengue is supportive, using either oral or intravenous re-hydration for mild or moderate disease, and intravenous fluids and blood transfusion for more severe cases.