Dengue fever
Dengue Fever
About Dengue
Dengue fever, commonly known as break bone fever is a flu-like illness caused by the Dengue virus. It is caused when an Aedes mosquito carrying the virus bites a healthy person. This disease is mainly found in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. According to WHO, an estimated 500,000 people require hospitalization each year. Most cases occur in tropical areas of the world, with the population in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Africa, parts of Central and South America most susceptible to the disease. As per the data released by the Directorate of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), there have been 67,000 cases of Dengue fever as of 13th October 2019 in India.
Causes of Dengue
Dengue is caused due to four viruses, namely - DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. The virus enters a mosquito when it bites an already infected person. And the illness is spread when it bites a healthy person, and the virus spreads through the person’s bloodstream.
Once a person recovers, he is immune to the specific virus and not the other three types. The probability of developing severe Dengue fever, also known as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, increases if you're infected a second, third or fourth time.
Symptoms of Dengue
Usually, symptoms of Dengue feel like an uncomplicated fever and not easily identifiable in teens and children. Dengue causes a fever of 104 F degrees along with at least two of these symptoms:
- Head ache
- Vomitings
- Body pains
- Pain behind the eyes
- Rash
Dengue Treatment:
There is no specific treatment of Dengue fever or cure as Dengue is a virus. Timely intervention can help, depending on how severe the disease is. Here are a few basic treatments of Dengue fever:
- Medication
- Stay hydrated
- Hygiene
Dengue Prevention :
Researchers are still working on finding a specific cure for Dengue fever. Dengue fever treatment involves the use of pain relievers with acetaminophen. Additionally, your doctor will recommend you to drink plenty of fluids and take rest. The best way is prevention. Following are some actions you can take to keep yourself safe from the virus:
- Lesser skin exposure: Try wearing long pants and shirts to cover your skin surfaces and reducing the chances of bites. Mosquitoes are highly active early in the morning or evening, so try avoiding venturing out in those times.
- Mosquito Repellent: A repellent with at least 10 per cent concentration of diethyltoluamide (DEET). A higher concentration is needed for longer exposures. You can apply the ointment daily to keep mosquitoes away.
- Personal hygiene: When you are infected with any virus, you are extra sensitive to other illnesses. Use a hand sanitizer like Dettol liquid hand wash which acts to keep germs at bay. This liquid soap will protect you against many illness-causing germs.
Anti-Dengue Day:
International Anti-Dengue Day is observed every year on 15 June.[65] The idea was first agreed upon in 2010 with the first event held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2011.
Epidemiology:
Dengue is common in more than 120 countries. In 2013 it caused about 60 million symptomatic infections worldwide, with 18% admitted to hospital and about 13,600 deaths. The worldwide cost of dengue case is estimated US$9 billion. For the decade of the 2000s, 12 countries in Southeast Asia were estimated to have about 3 million infections and 6,000 deaths annually. In 2019 the Philippines declared a national dengue epidemic due to the deaths reaching 622 people that year. It is reported in at least 22 countries in Africa; but is likely present in all of them with 20% of the population at risk.
- Blood donation: Outbreaks of dengue fever increase the need for blood products while decreasing the number of potential blood donors due to potential infection with the virus. Someone who has a dengue infection is typically not allowed to donate blood for at least the next six months.
To know more information about the journal. Please go through the link https://www.omicsonline.org/instructions-journal-infectious-disease-and-pathology.php%20
With Regards
Nick
Editorial Assistant
Journal Of Infectious Diseases and Pathology