What Is Dengue Fever? What Are Its Symptoms And Treatment Methods?
Dengue Fever is a disease that is caused by a virus carried by mosquitoes.
Aedes aegypti is the mosquito that most commonly spreads this disease through its bite.
This type of mosquito is predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, South & Central America, a few regions of the Caribbean, and certain parts of the Indonesian archipelago in the northeastern part of Australia.
People who travel to different parts of the world are more likely to be affected by the disease.
Another separate disease called Dengue hemorrhagic fever is also caused by the same kind of virus.
However, the symptoms of this disease are much more severe than Dengue Fever.
Although the two diseases carry a common name and are caused by a similar virus, they are two separate diseases and should not be confused one with the other.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever Once the infection sets in after the mosquito bite, within 4 to 7 days the person would have sudden high fever, often reaching up to 104 or 105 degree Fahrenheit.
The fever might also be accompanied by a red rash that appears over the body.
After a few days, a second rash looking similar to measles might appear.
Discomfort and increased sensitivity of the skin are often experienced due to the rash.
Some of the other common symptoms might include fatigue, joint aches, muscle aches, headache (most often behind the eyes), swollen lymph nodes, nausea, and vomiting.
Diagnostic Tests A few tests may be done in order to diagnose the disease.
These include a complete blood count (CBC), and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or Antibody Titer test to detect the exact type of dengue virus.
Treatment Dengue fever does not have a specific treatment.
Only the symptoms of the disease are controlled using certain medicines.
In the case of high fever, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) might be prescribed.
It is important that patients avoid Aspirin during this period.
Since dehydration often occurs during the disease, it is important to provide fluids to the patient when signs of dehydration are apparent.
Prognosis Dengue fever is not a deadly disease.
It causes discomfort to the patient when symptoms are present, normally for a week or more.
However, the patient would fully recover within a few days.
In severe cases of the disease, other complications like Febrile convulsions and severe dehydration may occur.
If a person has traveled to a region where there is an outbreak of the disease, they need to contact a doctor as soon as they sense a few symptoms of the disease.
Prevention Since the disease is caused by mosquitoes, minimizing one's exposure to mosquitoes would be the best form of preventing the disease.
The use of mosquito repellents, netting and fuller clothing can help prevent mosquito bites.
Travelling to tropical regions when mosquito activity is minimal could also help.
Local authorities can also conduct mosquito abatement programs to reduce the risk of infection in the surroundings.
Aedes aegypti is the mosquito that most commonly spreads this disease through its bite.
This type of mosquito is predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, South & Central America, a few regions of the Caribbean, and certain parts of the Indonesian archipelago in the northeastern part of Australia.
People who travel to different parts of the world are more likely to be affected by the disease.
Another separate disease called Dengue hemorrhagic fever is also caused by the same kind of virus.
However, the symptoms of this disease are much more severe than Dengue Fever.
Although the two diseases carry a common name and are caused by a similar virus, they are two separate diseases and should not be confused one with the other.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever Once the infection sets in after the mosquito bite, within 4 to 7 days the person would have sudden high fever, often reaching up to 104 or 105 degree Fahrenheit.
The fever might also be accompanied by a red rash that appears over the body.
After a few days, a second rash looking similar to measles might appear.
Discomfort and increased sensitivity of the skin are often experienced due to the rash.
Some of the other common symptoms might include fatigue, joint aches, muscle aches, headache (most often behind the eyes), swollen lymph nodes, nausea, and vomiting.
Diagnostic Tests A few tests may be done in order to diagnose the disease.
These include a complete blood count (CBC), and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or Antibody Titer test to detect the exact type of dengue virus.
Treatment Dengue fever does not have a specific treatment.
Only the symptoms of the disease are controlled using certain medicines.
In the case of high fever, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) might be prescribed.
It is important that patients avoid Aspirin during this period.
Since dehydration often occurs during the disease, it is important to provide fluids to the patient when signs of dehydration are apparent.
Prognosis Dengue fever is not a deadly disease.
It causes discomfort to the patient when symptoms are present, normally for a week or more.
However, the patient would fully recover within a few days.
In severe cases of the disease, other complications like Febrile convulsions and severe dehydration may occur.
If a person has traveled to a region where there is an outbreak of the disease, they need to contact a doctor as soon as they sense a few symptoms of the disease.
Prevention Since the disease is caused by mosquitoes, minimizing one's exposure to mosquitoes would be the best form of preventing the disease.
The use of mosquito repellents, netting and fuller clothing can help prevent mosquito bites.
Travelling to tropical regions when mosquito activity is minimal could also help.
Local authorities can also conduct mosquito abatement programs to reduce the risk of infection in the surroundings.