Dengue Fever

What is dengue fever?

• Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute disease of the sudden that usually follows a benign coursewith symptoms such as headache, fever, prostration, severe muscle and joint pain,swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) and rash.

• The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue. Other signs of dengue fever include bleeding gums, severe pain behind the eyes and redpalms and soles.

• Dengue (pronounced DENG-gay) can affect anyone, but tends to be more severe in people with compromised immune systems. Because it is caused by one of the fourserotypes of the virus, it is possible to dengue more than once. However, an attack of dengue produces immunity for a lifetime to that particular serotype to which the patient was exposed.

• Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes.
• Symptoms such as headache, fever, prostration, severe joint and muscle pain, swollenglands (lymphadenopathy) and rash. The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue.

Dengue is widespread in the tropics and subtropics.

Since dengue fever is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotictreatment. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely concerned with relief of symptoms (symptomatic).The acute phase of illness with fever and myalgia takes about one to two weeks.

• Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a specific syndrome that tends to affect childrenunder 10 years. It causes abdominal pain, haemorrhage (bleeding) and circulatory collapse (shock)
• The prevention of dengue requires control or eradication of the mosquitoes that the virus that causes dengue.

Dengue is among other names, including "dengue fever" or "dandy fever. "Victims of dengue often turns due to the intense joint and muscle pain, hence the name dengue.Slaves in the West Indies who contracted dengue were said to dandy fever because of their stance and gait have.

• Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of viral disease. Symptoms includeheadache, fever, rash, and evidence of bleeding in the body. Petechiae (small red orpurple spots or blisters under the skin), bleeding in the nose or gums, black stools or bruising are all possible signs of bleeding. This form of dengue fever can be lifethreatening and can progress to the most severe form of the disease, dengue shock syndrome.

There is currently no vaccine available for dengue.