Dengue Fever

CEBU, Philippines – Now that it has begun to rain frequently, there comes an added problem to the expectable flooding. And this dreaded addition has already claimed a number of lives these past years, mostly among young children. In fact, it is no longer unusual to hear of a neighbor or her child being hospitalized for dengue fever.

Dengue fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue viruses. These viruses are related to the viruses that cause West Nile infection and  yellow fever.

Each year, millions of cases of  dengue fever  occur worldwide. Most of these are in tropical areas of the world, with the greatest risk occurring in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Southern China, Taiwan, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean (except Cuba and the Cayman Islands), Mexico, Africa, Central and South America (except Chile, Paraguay, and Argentina). Of course, dengue cases are also reported in the Philippines.

In the United States, most dengue cases occur in people who contracted the infection while traveling abroad. But the risk is increasing for people living along the Texas-Mexico border and in other parts of the southern United States. In 2009, an outbreak of dengue fever was identified in Key West, Florida.

Dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes Egypti mosquito infected with a dengue virus. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a person with dengue virus in their  blood. The infection is not spread directly from person to person.

Symptoms

Symptoms, which usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days, may include sudden high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pains, nausea, vomiting, skin rash (which appears three to four days after the onset of fever), and mild bleeding (such a nose bleed,  bleeding gums, or easy bruising).

Sometimes symptoms are mild and can be mistaken for those of the other  viral infections. Younger children and people who have never had the infection before tend to have milder cases than older children and adults. However, serious problems can develop. These include dengue hemorrhagic fever, a rare complication characterized by high fever, damage to lymph and blood vessels, bleeding from the nose and gums, enlargement of the  liver, and failure of the circulatory system. The symptoms may progress to massive bleeding, shock, and death – called dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

People with weakened immune systems as well as those with a second or subsequent dengue infection are believed to be at greater risk for developing dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Diagnosis

Doctors can diagnose dengue infection with a blood test to check for the virus or antibodies to it. People getting sick after traveling to a known dengue infested area should immediately consult the doctor. The doctor then conducts an evaluation of the symptoms for the possibility that these are caused by a dengue infection.

Treatment

There is no specific medicine to treat dengue infection. Persons having dengue fever should use  pain  relievers with acetaminophen  and avoid medicines with  aspirin, which could worsen bleeding. Rest is important, drinking plenty of fluids, and, again, seeing the doctor. If the fever returns and feels worse in the first 24 hours after the fever has come down, it is necessary to get to a hospital immediately to be checked for complications.

Prevention

There is no  vaccine  to prevent dengue fever. The best protection is to prevent bites by infected mosquitoes – or by mosquitoes in general, since it is impossible to tell whether the mosquito is infected or not. Those living in areas where dengue cases have occurred should be particularly watchful. This requires keeping the mosquito population down.

As much as possible, it is advisable to:

• Stay away from heavily populated residential areas

• Use mosquito repellents, even indoors

• When outdoors, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks

• When indoors, use air conditioning if available

• Make sure window and door screens are secure and free of holes. Use mosquito nets in sleeping areas that are not screened or air conditioned

• Consult the doctor immediately when dengue symptoms are observed.

It helps, as well, to get rid of places where mosquitoes may breed. These include old tires, cans, or flower pots that collect rain. Regularly change the water in outdoor bird baths and pets’ water dishes.

If someone in the home gets dengue fever, vigilant  efforts should be exerted to protect the other family members from mosquitoes. Mosquitoes that bite the infected family member could spread the infection to others in the home. (Reference: www.webmd.com)