Bongo Pix Blog
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 13, 2011
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Dengue Fever
Dengue fever is ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most important mosquito-borne viral disease in the world - and the most rapidly spreading - with a 30-fold increase in global incidence over the past 50 years.
Over 2.5 billion people, more than 30% of the world's population, in over 100 countries are at risk of infection; the most significant epidemics recently occurring in Southeast Asia, the Americas and the Western Pacific. Each year an estimated 390 million dengue infections occur with 500,000 of these developing into dengue haemorrhagic fever, a more severe form of the disease, which results in up to 25,000 deaths annually worldwide.
A human virus
Dengue is a human virus transmitted primarily by the mosquito Aedes aegypti that is commonly found around homes and workplaces. The transmission cycle for dengue is human - mosquito – human. After biting a dengue-infected person it then takes about 12 days for the mosquito to be capable of transmitting the virus to another person. During this time the virus replicates inside the mosquito body, spreading until it reaches the mosquito's salivary glands. The virus is then injected through the saliva into a human when the mosquito takes a blood meal (bite). Given that most mosquitoes live less than 30 days, only relatively old mosquitoes (those at least 12 days old) can transmit dengue virus to humans.
Dengue viruses can be grouped into four virus serotypes all of which can cause dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), a more severe and potentially fatal form of the disease. Prior infection with one dengue serotype is believed to predispose people to DHF in subsequent infections with other serotypes.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
Symptoms, which usually begin four to six days after infection and last for up to 10 days, may include
Sometimes symptoms are mild and can be mistaken for those of the flu or another viral infection. 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. This is 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.
Diagnosing Dengue Fever
Doctors can diagnose dengue infection with a blood test to check for the virus or antibodies to it. If you become sick after traveling to a tropical area, let your doctor know. This will allow your doctor to evaluate the possibility that your symptoms were caused by a dengue infection.
Treatment for Dengue Fever
There is no specific medicine to treat dengue infection. If you think you may have dengue fever, you should use pain relievers with acetaminophen and avoid medicines with aspirin, which could worsen bleeding. You should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and see your doctor. If you start to feel worse in the first 24 hours after your fever goes down, you should get to a hospital immediately to be checked for complications.
Kujikinga na homa hii ya Dengeu ni rahisi sana, pamoja na ushauri au njia zilizotolewa na Wizara ya Afya, njia iliyobora zaidi ni kuakikisha kuwa mfumo wa kinga au immune system yako iko juu.
Dengue fever is ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most important mosquito-borne viral disease in the world - and the most rapidly spreading - with a 30-fold increase in global incidence over the past 50 years.
Over 2.5 billion people, more than 30% of the world's population, in over 100 countries are at risk of infection; the most significant epidemics recently occurring in Southeast Asia, the Americas and the Western Pacific. Each year an estimated 390 million dengue infections occur with 500,000 of these developing into dengue haemorrhagic fever, a more severe form of the disease, which results in up to 25,000 deaths annually worldwide.
A human virus
Dengue is a human virus transmitted primarily by the mosquito Aedes aegypti that is commonly found around homes and workplaces. The transmission cycle for dengue is human - mosquito – human. After biting a dengue-infected person it then takes about 12 days for the mosquito to be capable of transmitting the virus to another person. During this time the virus replicates inside the mosquito body, spreading until it reaches the mosquito's salivary glands. The virus is then injected through the saliva into a human when the mosquito takes a blood meal (bite). Given that most mosquitoes live less than 30 days, only relatively old mosquitoes (those at least 12 days old) can transmit dengue virus to humans.
Dengue viruses can be grouped into four virus serotypes all of which can cause dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), a more severe and potentially fatal form of the disease. Prior infection with one dengue serotype is believed to predispose people to DHF in subsequent infections with other serotypes.
Symptoms of Dengue Fever
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 pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Skin rash, which appears three to four days after the onset of fever
- Mild bleeding (such a nose bleed, bleeding gums, or easy bruising)
Sometimes symptoms are mild and can be mistaken for those of the flu or another viral infection. 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. This is 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.
Diagnosing Dengue Fever
Doctors can diagnose dengue infection with a blood test to check for the virus or antibodies to it. If you become sick after traveling to a tropical area, let your doctor know. This will allow your doctor to evaluate the possibility that your symptoms were caused by a dengue infection.
Treatment for Dengue Fever
There is no specific medicine to treat dengue infection. If you think you may have dengue fever, you should use pain relievers with acetaminophen and avoid medicines with aspirin, which could worsen bleeding. You should also rest, drink plenty of fluids, and see your doctor. If you start to feel worse in the first 24 hours after your fever goes down, you should get to a hospital immediately to be checked for complications.
Kujikinga na homa hii ya Dengeu ni rahisi sana, pamoja na ushauri au njia zilizotolewa na Wizara ya Afya, njia iliyobora zaidi ni kuakikisha kuwa mfumo wa kinga au immune system yako iko juu.