Dengue Fever

Definition

Dengue fever is a virus-based disease spread by mosquitoes.

Alternative Names

O'nyong-nyong fever; Dengue-like disease; Breakbone fever

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Several related viruses (four different arboviruses) cause dengue fever. It is spread by the bite of mosquitoes, most commonly the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which found in tropic and subtropic regions. This includes parts of:

Southeast Asia
Indonesian archipelago into northeastern Australia
Sub-Saharan Africa
South and Central America

Dengue fever is being seen more in world travelers. It is generally lasts a week or more. Although uncomfortable, it is not deadly. The proper diagnosis depends on whether you tell your doctor about any visits to areas of the world where dengue fever is known to occur.
Dengue fever should not be confused with Dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is a separate disease and frequently deadly.

Symptoms

Dengue fever begins with a sudden high fever, often to 104-105 degrees Fahrenheit.
A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body early during the fever. A second rash, measles-like in appearance, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.
Other symptoms include:

Headache
Joint aches
Muscle aches
Nausea
Swollen lymph nodes
Vomiting

Signs and tests

Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition include:

Complete blood count
Serology studies to look for antibodies to dengue viruses
Antibody titer for dengue virus types

Prevention

Clothing, mosquito repellent, and netting can help reduce exposure to mosquitoes. Traveling during periods of minimal mosquito activity can also be helpful.
Mosquito abatement programs may reduce the risk of infection.

THIS IS GENERAL INFORMATION ON DISEASE. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR FOR MORE DETAILS AND TREATMENT.

Compiled by –Santosh Ghodinde ,Community Pharmacist, Dhanwantari Medical, Panvel.