Dengue

Overview

Dengue is a type of viral infection most common in tropical and subtropical countries worldwide. The disease is usually transmitted through infected mosquitoes, causing the virus to enter the body of humans upon getting bitten. Some of the common symptoms of dengue include nausea, body aches, rashes, and so on. Upon noticing the symptoms, you must immediately visit the doctor for a prompt diagnosis and treatment.

What is Dengue?

Dengue is a viral infection that is primarily transmitted to the human body through mosquito bites. About 100 to 400 million people across the globe get infected with this disease every year. Usually, this condition is asymptomatic in its initial stages and leads to mild illness. However, occasionally, the virus can develop severe dengue infections, that can even cause the death of the infected person.

People can suffer from dengue multiple times in their lives. However, most of the time, the patient gets cured within one to two weeks. Even, a person can lower their chances of developing this condition by avoiding mosquito bites, especially during the daytime.

Types of Dengue

Dengue can be classified into four types, based on the causal organism. The four different yet closely related virus types include DENV-1 (dengue-1), DENV-2 (dengue-2), DENV-3(dengue-3), and DENV-4 (dengue-4).

Symptoms of Dengue

Usually, people suffering from dengue experience no or mild symptoms in the initial days. Symptoms usually appear from four and ten days and mostly last from two to seven days. Some common signs of the onset of dengue include severe headache, high fever, pain in muscles, bones, and joints, intense pain behind the eyes, vomiting, nausea, swollen lymph glands, and rashes.

However, if a person has developed dengue for the second time, some of the severe symptoms that they may notice include persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, bleeding gums or nose, rapid breathing, fatigue, irritability, blood in vomit or stool, restlessness, pale and cold skin, being very thirsty, and feeling weak. In such scenarios, the patient should seek professional care immediately.

Causes of Dengue

Dengue fever develops upon the entry of the dengue virus into the body of a human being. Usually, mosquitoes act as vectors, transmitting the virus from one person to another. The mosquito that primarily spreads the dengue virus is Aedes aegypti. When the mosquitoes bite an infected person, the virus enters the body of the mosquitoes. When these mosquitoes bite a healthy person, the virus enters their bloodstream, resulting in the development of this condition.

People who reside in tropical and subtropical regions of the world are highly prone to this disease. Some high-risk areas for dengue fever include the western Pacific islands, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Also, if a person has previously been diagnosed with dengue, there is a high risk that they will develop this disease again. This is so because, after the development of dengue for the first time, they get immune to the specific type of virus that infected them, but not to the other three types of viruses that cause this disease.

Diagnosis of Dengue

To diagnose the development of dengue, doctors often prescribe various tests. One such important test is the virological test, which directly detects virus elements in the body. Usually, pathologists employ trained staff and specialised equipment to carry out this test. Hence, not all medical facilities offer this test. Another popular diagnostic test for dengue is the serological test. It helps to confirm the presence of antibodies that signal a recent infection.

Treatment for Dengue

There is no such specification dengue treatment and medication to date that has helped to cure this disease completely. When suffering from this condition, patients can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen. These medicines help in reducing fever, joint pain, and headache. However, they must avoid the consumption of aspirin and ibuprofen as they can lead to internal bleeding and might prove to be life-threatening. Also, they must drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and rest as much as possible.

Preventive Measures for Dengue

There are two main types of measures that people residing in dengue-prone areas can undertake for the prevention of dengue. The first one is the use of the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia™ which one should take only if they have been diagnosed with dengue previously. It can notably minimise the chances of the development of dengue haemorrhagic fever if the patient develops this condition in the future.

Another set of preventive measures for dengue include protecting oneself from mosquito bites. These include the use of EPA-registered insect repellents that contain 20% to 30% DEET, covering exposed skin at night especially when outdoors, keeping windows closed and repairing holes to keep mosquitoes away, removing standing water, and using mosquito nets. Also, pregnant women should avoid travelling to dengue-prone regions.

Myths and Facts Related to Dengue

Following are some myths related to dengue and the facts surrounding them:

Myth 1: Dengue can be spread by any mosquito
Fact: Dengue can be spread only by female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry the DENV or dengue virus. This minimises the chances of the development of this disease, upon every mosquito bite.

Myth 2: Dengue is most frequent during the rainy season
Fact: Aedes aegypti is mainly attracted to carbon dioxide and heat, implying they are equally active in summers when compared to rainy seasons. Also, the DENV virus is capable of causing the infection all year round, keeping people at risk through all seasons.

Myth 3: Dengue mosquitoes bite only at night
Fact: Unlike other mosquitoes, Ades mosquitoes are more active in the late afternoon and early morning. So, they can bite people at any time of the day and transmit the dengue virus, and not solely during the nighttime.

Myth 4: Papaya juice helps in dengue treatment
Fact: There is no scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness of papaya juice in dengue treatment. Papaya leaf extract is popularly believed to increase platelet counts. Hence, they are widely used to manage the symptoms of dengue.

Myth 5: Dengue affects only children and elderly people, women and darker people
Fact: Dengue can develop in any person with the virus in their bloodstream, irrespective of their age, gender, and race. So, everyone residing in dengue-prone regions must take the necessary precautions to avoid the development of this disease.