Dengue Fever is an infectious viral disease usually found during and shortly after the rainy season. It is common in tropical and subtropical countries like the Africa, America, Caribbean, Pacific Islands, and South East Asia. It is also known as “break-bone fever” because of the severe joint pain felt during the illness. It is transmitted by mosquito bites. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito bites an already infected person then transmit the infection to another by biting someone else.
There are four of these dengue viruses which are similar but distinct from one another. When a person gets infected with one type of virus, he gets immunity for that particular type. So that a person can get infected four times in a lifetime. The condition starts with a sudden onset of high grade fever accompanied by headache. As the disease progresses, there is appearance of a skin rash, muscle and joint pains. There can also be loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and enlarged lymph nodes. These symptoms usually appear after five to eight days from infection. They usually lasts up to ten days.
When a complete blood count is done to the infected individual, there is a mild increase in his WBC, increase also in his Hematocrit, and a decrease in his platelets. This condition is found in travellers so that there is usually a history of visit from the tropical areas. 
Supportive management is given to the patient. Paracetamol is given for the headache and fever. NSAIDS and aspirin are avoided because they tend to increase bleeding. Fluid intake is increased to avoid dehydration and rest is advised. The condition is generally self-limited. The problem starts when the condition progresses to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF). This usually happens in children less than ten years of age and on their 2nd or 3rd Dengue Fever infection. It is severe and often fatal. Aside from the usual symptoms of DF, there are also signs of bleeding internally from the bowels and internal organs. Blood transfusion is usually given. No vaccine is yet available for dengue. Prevention is done by using insect repellants, mosquito nets in sleeping quarters, clothing that covers bare skin, and avoiding scents that attract mosquitoes. |
