Dengue fever
is a viral disease that affects people in the tropics and certain regions of Africa. Related to malaria, it is caused by four different version of the flavivirus, and is also known as "breakbone fever."
History
A pandemic of dengue fever broke out in the 1950s in North America, Africa and Asia. Since the 1990s, Dengue has become the second most important mosquito-borne disease, after malaria. All four types of dengue fever produce the same symptoms, though there is no cross-immunity among the types.
Time Frame
Outbreaks of dengue fever in an affected area tend to occur every 5 to 6 months. This is a result of certain seasonal factors, combined with with temporary immunity across all strains from certain infected people. When this immunity declines, all of the people in the at-risk area are vulnerable and the next wave of the pandemic is imminent.
Effects
The most common symptoms of all four types of dengue fever are headache, muscle and joint pain, fever and rash. The rash tends to be bright red, and appears on the chest and lower limbs, though it will ultimately spread. There may also be an infection of the digestive system, leading to nausea, diarrhea and other digestive symptoms.
Features
A diagnosis of dengue hemorrhagic fever involves four types of symptoms. The first is a mixture of fever, bladder trouble and loss of appetite. The second is a tendency toward hemorrhage, including easy bruising, bloody diarrhea or a tendency to bruise due to a tourniquet. A decrease in platelets is the third criterion. Finally, evidence of leakage of plasma is essential to a dengue-fever diagnosis.
Prevention/Solution
The most important part of therapy is to counter or avoid shock. Vital signs should be carefully taken between Days 2 and 7, as this period is critical for survival. Increased fluids should be administered to avoid dehydration; intravenous fluids should also be administered if the dehydration looks significant. In the event of a severe drop in platelets or a large amount of bleeding, a platelet transfusion is advisable.
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