Dengue fever is a viral disease that is transmitted to humans by a type of mosquito that bites during the daytime hours. The disease is common in tropical and subtropical areas. Dengue fever is not contagious, but is transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected person and then spreads the disease by biting a non-infected person. The disease is of particular concern for travelers to sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and parts of Brazil and South America.
Identification
Symptoms of dengue fever include a sudden fever, chills, a pink rash on the face, body aches and general malaise. Infected persons may also experience severe pain at the joints, swollen glands, red eyes, eye pain and weakness. In some cases, bruises may appear, and black vomit occurs in serious cases. Symptoms may disappear after an initial period of 4 to 7 days and then reappear with greater force. Dengue fever is often misdiagnosed as malaria, because symptoms and infection source are similar.
Types
In most cases of common dengue fever, there is no treatment for the virus. Doctors may prescribe medicines to alleviate pain and fever symptoms, and infected persons are advised to get lots of bed rest and to drink an adequate volume of liquid to prevent dehydration. In cases of severe dengue fever, patients may be given blood transfusions to replace lost blood, and on occasion, oxygen will be administered.
Time Frame
The incubation period for the dengue fever virus is 3 to 15 days; most symptoms manifest themselves in under a week. Most dengue fever patients recover in two weeks, with careful care. Almost all patients infected with dengue fever recover entirely. If you have been in an area endemic to dengue fever and you exhibit any of the symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately. The sooner dengue fever is diagnosed, the better the chances of complete recovery and avoidance of the more serious dengue shock syndrome.
Warning
Patients suffering from dengue fever are advised not to take aspirin; instead, acetaminophen or other over-the-counter pain medications are more appropriate. When severe symptoms of dengue fever appear, such as shock and coma, it is crucial that victims get early treatment. In such cases, doctors will provide aggressive treatment with electrolyte and fluid replacement methods.
Prevention/Solution
While there is no treatment for the dengue fever virus, the best way to avoid the disease is prevention. Travelers to tropic and subtropic areas that are at high risk for dengue fever should exercise particular caution during the daylight hours, when disease-carrying mosquitoes bite. Wear long pants and long sleeves, avoid standing water and use a mosquito repellent that contains the chemical DEET.
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