Dengue Fever: Targeted Symptoms, Transmission, Treatment and Preventive Measures in 2024
What is Dengue Fever?
A Brief History
While the exact origins of dengue fever are unclear, historical records suggest that it has been around for centuries. The first documented outbreak occurred in 1779 in the Philippines. Since then, the disease has spread to many parts of the world, particularly in Southeast Asia, South America, and the Caribbean.
Dengue Fever: A Persistent Threat
Understanding Dengue Fever
Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral infection, has become a significant global health concern, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. It’s transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, the same type that spreads diseases like Zika and chikungunya.
Sudden onset of high fever (104°F/40°C)- Severe headache
- Pain behind the eyes
- Joint and muscle pain (hence the name Break-Bone Fever)
- Rash (appears 2-5 days after fever)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Dengue Fever (mild)
- Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (severe, characterized by bleeding and low platelet count)
- Dengue Shock Syndrome (life-threatening, characterized by severe bleeding and organ failure)
- Mosquito bite (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus)
- Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy
- Blood transfusion (rare)
- Travelling to tropical regions
-
a suitable place for the proliferation of Aedes Aegypti, the mosquito that transmits dengue. Living in areas with poor sanitation and mosquito control
- Previous Dengue infection
- Weakened immune system
Diagnosis:
- Physical examination
- Blood tests (PCR, NS1 antigen, IgM/IgG antibodies)
- Platelet count and blood clotting tests
- Rest and hydration
- Pain management (acetaminophen)
- Monitoring of platelet count and blood pressure
- Hospitalization (severe cases)
- No specific antiviral medication is available
Prevention:
- Wear protective clothing and apply insect repellent
- Eliminate standing water around homes
- Use mosquito nets and screens
- Vaccination (available in some countries for individuals aged 9-45)
- Haemorrhaging
- Organ failure
- Respiratory distress
- Septic shock
- Death (in severe cases)
Epidemiology:
- 390 million cases worldwide annually
- 96 million symptomatic cases
- 22,000 deaths annually
- Common in tropical regions (Southeast Asia, Latin America, Africa)
Difference between Dengue Fever and chikungunya
Dengue fever and chikungunya are both mosquito-borne illnesses that cause fever and joint pain, but they have some key differences:
- Cause: Dengue is caused by a flavivirus, while chikungunya is caused by an alphavirus [2].
- Fever: Dengue fever can last anywhere from 2-7 days, whereas chikungunya fever typically lasts 3-4 days [3].
- Joint pain: Chikungunya is known for causing severe, debilitating joint pain that can linger for months or even years, while dengue’s joint pain is usually less severe and resolves sooner [4].
- Rash: Dengue rash is usually limited to the limbs and face, while chikungunya rash can appear all over the body, including the face, palms, and soles of the feet [6].
- Complications: Dengue fever can lead to serious complications like bleeding and organ failure, while chikungunya’s main complication is chronic joint pain [1, 5].
Diagnostic tests for Dengue and chikungunya
The diagnostic tests for Dengue and chikungunya can differ depending on the illness stage, 4].
- Early detection: In the first few days of illness, a test called RT-PCR (Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction) can be used to detect the virus itself for both dengue and chikungunya [2 [invalid URL removed], 4].
- Later stages: After a few days, other tests detect the body’s immune response to the virus. These can be helpful when the amount of virus in the blood is low.
While some tests overlap, depending on the stage of illness, different tests may be used for each disease.
- Surveillance and outbreak response
Complete Mosquito Net - Vaccine development and distribution
- Vector control and mosquito management
- Public awareness campaigns
- Stay safe and take preventive measures!
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- National Institute of Health (NIH)
- Mayo Clinic
- Wikipedia (.org)
- Elsevier (.es)
- Medscape (.com)
- National Institutes of Health (.gov)
- Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (.gov)
- Godrej Hygiene
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are intended to raise awareness about common health issues and should not be viewed as sound medical advice for your specific condition. You should always consult with a licensed medical practitioner before following any suggestions outlined in this article or adopting any treatment protocol based on the contents of this article.
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