Description

Dengue (DENG-gey) fever is a mosquito-borne disease that occurs in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Mild dengue fever causes high fever and flu-like symptoms. The severe form of dengue fever, also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause severe bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and death.

Millions of cases of dengue infection occur worldwide each year. Dengue fever is most common in Southeast Asia, the western region of the islands of the Pacific, Latin America and Africa. But the disease has been spreading to new areas, including local outbreaks in Europe and in parts of the southern united States.

The researchers are working on dengue fever vaccines. For now, in areas where dengue fever is common, the best ways to prevent infections to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take measures to reduce the mosquito population.

Symptoms

Many people do not experience signs or symptoms of an infection by dengue.

When symptoms do occur, they may be confused with other illnesses such as the flu and usually begin four to 10 days after being 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
  • Pain behind the eyes
  • Inflammation of the glands
  • Eruption

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

Severe Dengue occurs when the blood vessels are damaged and leak. And the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your blood decreases. 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 on the first day or two after the fever goes away, and may include:

  • Severe stomach pain
  • Persistent vomiting
  • Bleeding from the gums or nose
  • Blood in the urine, feces, or vomit.
  • Bleeding under the skin, which might look like bruising
  • Difficult or rapid breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability or restlessness.

When to see a doctor

Severe dengue fever is a life-threatening medical emergency. Seek medical attention right away if you have recently visited an area where dengue fever is known to occur, you had a fever and you experience any of the warning signs. Warning signs include: severe stomach pain, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or blood in the nose, the gums, the vomit or stool.

If you have been traveling recently, and develop a mild fever and symptoms of dengue fever, call your doctor.

Causes

Dengue fever is caused by any of the four types of dengue virus. You can't get dengue fever being close to an infected person. In its place, the dengue fever is transmitted through mosquito bites.

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

After he has recovered from dengue fever, have long-term immunity to the type of virus that infected you — but not to the other three types of viruses in dengue fever. This means that you may be infected again in the future for one of the other three types of virus. Your risk of developing severe dengue fever increases if you get dengue fever a second, third or fourth time.

Risk factors

You have a higher risk of contracting dengue fever or a more severe form of the disease if you:

  • Living or traveling in tropical areas. Being in tropical and subtropical areas, it increases your risk of exposure to the virus that causes dengue fever. Especially in high-risk areas include Southeast Asia, the western region of the islands of the Pacific, Latin America and Africa.
  • Have you had a fever of dengue in the past. Previous infection with a virus of dengue fever increases the risk of severe symptoms if you get back the dengue fever.

Complications

Severe dengue fever can cause internal bleeding and organ damage. The blood pressure can drop to dangerous levels, causing shock. In some severe cases of dengue fever can lead to death.

Women who suffer from dengue fever during pregnancy may be able to transmit the virus to her baby during childbirth. In addition, the infants of women who suffer from dengue fever during pregnancy have an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, or fetal distress.

Prevention

The vaccine

Dengue fever vaccine may be available for people ages 6 to 60. The Dengue vaccine is a series of two or three doses, depending on the vaccine is obtained, in the course of the month. These vaccines are for the use by the people living where the viruses that cause dengue fever are common, and who have already had dengue fever, at least once.

Vaccines are not available in the continental united States. But in the year 2019, the united states Food and Drug Administration approved a dengue vaccine called Dengvaxia for people between the ages of 9 to 16 years who have had dengue fever in the past and living in the U.S. territories and freely associated states, where dengue fever is common.

Avoid mosquito bites

The World Health Organization insists that the vaccine is not an effective tool for reducing dengue fever in areas where the disease is common. Prevention of mosquito bites and control the population of mosquitoes are still the main methods for the prevention of the spread of dengue fever.

If you live in or travel to an area where dengue fever is common, these tips may help reduce the risk of mosquito bites:

  • Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened housing. The mosquitoes that transmit the dengue virus 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.
  • The use of mosquito repellent. Permethrin can be applied to clothing, shoes, camping gear and bed netting. You can also buy clothes with permethrin already in it. For your skin, use a repellent containing at least a 10% 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 reduce mosquito populations by eliminating the habitats where they lay their eggs. At least once a week, empty and clean containers that hold standing water, such as the planting container, animal, dishes, and vases of flowers. Keep standing water from containers covered between cleanings.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of dengue fever can be difficult, because its signs and symptoms can be easily confused with other diseases, such as chikungunya, virus Zika, malaria, and typhoid fever.

Your doctor will likely ask about your medical and travel history. Be sure to describe international trips in detail, including the countries you visited and the dates, as well as any contact you have had with mosquitoes.

Your doctor may also remove a sample of blood to be tested in a laboratory evidence of infection with one of the dengue viruses.

Treatment

There is No specific treatment for dengue fever exists.

While recovering from dengue fever, drink plenty of fluids. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of dehydration:

  • The decrease of the urine
  • Few or no tears
  • Dryness in the mouth or on the lips.
  • Lethargy or confusion
  • Cold or clammy extremities

The over-the-counter (OTC) medications acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may help to reduce the muscle pain and fever. But if you have dengue fever, you should avoid other nonprescription pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). These painkillers can increase the risk of dengue fever bleeding complications.

If you have severe dengue fever, you may need:

  • Care and support in a hospital
  • Intravenous (IV) fluid and electrolyte replacement
  • Blood pressure monitoring
  • Transfusion to replace the blood loss

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary care provider. But it can also be referred to a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases.

Because appointments can be brief, and because there is often a lot of ground to cover, it is a good idea to be well-prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you prepare, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information. The list of their international travel history, with dates and countries you have visited and the drugs that are taken during the trip. Keep a record of your vaccinations, including pre-travel vaccine.
  • Make a list of all your medications. Include any vitamins or supplements that you take regularly.
  • Write down questions to ask your doctor. Prepare a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your doctor. A list of questions from most important to least important in case time runs out.

For dengue fever, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What kinds of tests do I need?
  • What treatments are available?
  • How long will it take before I feel better?
  • Are there long-term effects of this disease?
  • Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take my house? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer the questions of your doctor, such as:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • Nothing seems to make your symptoms better or worse?
  • Where have you traveled in the last month?
  • You were bitten by mosquitoes while traveling?
  • You have been in contact recently with someone who was sick?
Symptoms and treatment of Dengue fever