Dengue
Dengue fever is a disease caused by virus transmitted to people by mosquitoes. Dengue fever usually causes high fever ( 104F -105 F). It is also termed as “break bone fever” because the patients complain of severe muscle and joints pain. Symptoms of dengue typically begin three to fourteen days after infection In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low platelet count , or into dengue shock syndrome.
Dengue is spread by several species of mosquito Aedesaegypti.
Dengue fever is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas. Dengue fever is estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to cause about 50-100 million infections per year worldwide.
Causes
The viruses are transmitted from Aedesaegypti and Aedesalbopictus mosquitoes to humans in a viral life cycle that requires both humans and these mosquitoes. There is no human-to-human dengue fever transmission. Once a mosquito is infected, it remains infected for its life span.
Risk Factors
- Traveling to or living in endemic or outbreak areas, especially if no mosquito control is attempted by the people or government
- Mosquito bites
Symptoms
- Fever with muscle pain, bone and joint pain
- Headache, chills ( shivering / sweating)
- Rash with itching
- Pain behind or in the back of eyes
- Sore throat, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain
- Loss of apetite
Dengue fever is not contagious
Diagnosis
Complete blood test ( CBC)
Dengue Fever Complications
- Bleeding (hemorrhage)
- Low platelets
- Dehydaration
- Liver damage
- Slow heart rate
- Low blood pressure